The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1963, Blaðsíða 28

26
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SUMMER 1963
Re-elected with increased majority
Eric Stefanson, M.P.
In the recent federal elections Eric
Stefanson, M.P. was re-elected, with a
sizable increased majority for the con-
stituency of Selkirk. This is the third
successful election for Eric Stefanson.
It is very fitting that Eric should
represent the constituency of Selkirk.
He was born in Winnipeg, January 8,
1913, but, when two years old, moved
with his parents, Kristjan and Rann-
veig Stefanson, both deceased, to Vest-
fold in the west part of the constitu-
ency, and since 1949 has resided in
Gimli on the east boundary of the
constituency.
Eric received his public school edu-
cation at Vestfold. His parents moved
back to Winnipeg in 1926 and Eric
attended the Daniel McIntyre Col-
legiate.
While in Winnipeg Eric Stefanson
was active in sports and Y.M.C.A.
work. He played with the famous Win-
nipeg Toilers basketball team, and in
1932 and 1933 won the Skuli Hanson
trophy, awarded for the individual
championship at the annual Icelandic
Day celebration. He was an excellent
sprinter and in 1936 he won the 100
yard clash at 10 seconds flat.
In 1935 Eric married Sigrun Sigurd-
son of Lundar and they settled on a
dairy farm near Oak Point. The young
dairy farmer became active at once in
community work. He served as pres-
ident of the Oak Point Community
Club and the Oak Point Sports Day
Committee.
Mr. and Mrs. Stefanson moved to
Gimli in 1949 where he entered into
the general store and insurance busi-
ness. In 1958 he sold the general store
and now, when not in Ottawa, is en-
gaged in general insurance.
Eric entered into community life
at once in Gimli. He has served as pres-
ident of the Curling Club, Memorial
Recreation Centre, Kinsmen Club,
Chamber of Commerce, and the Home
and School Association. He served for
eight years on the Gimli Town Coun-
cil and was Deputy Mayor for four
years. He served itwo years as director
of the Manitoba Chamber of Com-
merce and for two years was President
of the joint Winnipeg-Gimli Icelandic
Celebration Committee. He is a past
Master of Lisgar Masonic Lodge at
Selkirk.
Eric Stefanson ranks high in Pro-
gressive Conservative organizations in
Manitoba. He is honorary vice-pres-
ident of the Provincial Progressive
Conservative Association, Past Pres-
ident of the Gimli and honorary vice-