The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1964, Blaðsíða 38

36
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Winter 1964
Prime minister Bjaroi isnedsktssen in Edmonton
“They Broke the Isolation” is the
significant heading of a report made
by a Saskatoon writer, Mrs. Florence
E. Pratt, who attended the banquet
held in Edmonton, Alta., on August 7,
in honour of the Prime Minister of
Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, his wife
fru SigriSur Bjornsdottir, and their
son. Mrs. Pratt is reporting on her im-
pressions of the three and quotes fom
the address delivered by the Prime
Minister. Lack of space prevents publi-
cation of the whole report. —Editor
They Broke the Isolation
Icelanders who had come to Canada had broken the isolation of Iceland.
‘‘You wrote and you came home to open windows to the big, modern, growing
world beyond our shores”, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson of Iceland told
a dinner audience of the Edmonton Icelandic Society during his visit to Edmon-
ton.
Fie marvelled that Icelandic immigrants had continued to use their native
language so long, but “the language spoken is not of prime importance. It is what
you think and say which matters” he emphasized. Icelanders who had come to
Canada had quickly won recognition of their abilities and had shown “we could
be as quick to do the world's work as anyone. Those of you who left your home-
land and came to Canada have really been a blessing to us at home. You have
strengthened our will to survive and for independence. I am very optimistic about
the future of my country,” he said.
The traditions of their forefathers and love of the homeland would continue
to affect what they thought and said. He hoped Icelandic Canadians would al-
ways value the traditions and cherish the ties of home, but it was even more im-
portant that they become “good and loyal citizens of this great country,” while
continuing to be good and loyal friends of Iceland. “I shall try to let my people
understand this when I return home”, he told his attentive audience.
More than his words, however, the personality of the Prime Minister im-
pressed those who met him. His shook of smoothly brushed white hair above a
square jaw and sturdy Viking’s body was a fitting frame for straight forward,
penetrating blue eyes which seemed to sweep a room, separating at a glance, the
whole grain from the chaff. The saga of his remarks on his Canadian tour from