The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1967, Page 67

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
65
Folks Home Society in 1946. In 1947
the Society purchased an old mansion
and converted it 'into a home for the
older members of the community. The
capacity of this home was soon strained
and plans were made to replace it with
a larger and more modern home. For
various reasons the realization of these
plans was delayed until the end of tire
1950’s. At that time a drive for funds
was started and in 1961 sod for the new
building was turned by the President
of Iceland during his visit to Van-
couver. The new home, with a capacity
of sixty guests, was completed in 1963.
The home has been and is still support-
ed by the other Icelandic associations
in Vancouver, as well as by many indi-
viduals in Vancouver and in many
other parts of Canada and the United
States.
The social-cultural club “Strondin”
continued the activities performed by
Ingolfur and Isafold. The library
established by Ingolfur was maintain-
ed for many years until it was donated
to the Old Folks Flome in 1963.
Strondin was very active in celebrating
the major Icelandic holidays, such as
the Thorrablot, Sumardagurinn fyrsti
and the 17th of June. In recent years
the society and the community have
been honoured by 'the visits of prom-
inent Icelanders, including the Pres-
iden, the Prime Minister and the Am-
bassador to Canada and the United
States. In 1963 Strondin sponsored a
charter flight from Vancouver to Ice-
land, an action which established a
new high in relations between Iceland
and her foreign sons and daughters.
Strondin was for many years an As-
sociate Member of the Icelandic Na-
tional League. This tie, however, came
to an end in 1967 when the society
was re-organized and re-named the
Icelandic Canadian Club of British
Columbia. The many changes which
have come about in the long history
of this club do not, however, reflect
any changes in the objectives it has or
in the ideals it upholds.
The Icelandic-Canadians in British
Columbia are not very numerous and
few have gained widespread public
prominence through their activities.
But they have not been remiss in ful-
filling their duties and responsibilities
to the province that is their home. In
their varied occupations and interests
they have contributed their share to
the building of British Columbia and
will continue to do so, working side
by side with people of all origins.
Their feelings for the province and
their hopes for the future are well
summed up in the following excerpts
from a poem written by the Icelandic
Canadian poet Jonas Stefansson (Kald-
bak) and dedicated to the Pacific
Coast:
Standing with awe by the
Arch of Peace,
With eyes inclined to thy rockjbound
seas,
To thee and thy blessings I breathe
a toast,
O beauteous, mighty Pacific Coast!
May Heaven inspire in thy hallowed
youth
The hope that avails in the search
for truth;
And may thy example and aims imbue
The earth, till thy wonderous dreams
come true.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Almanak Olafs Thorgeirssonar 1926
Bjamason, Pall More Echoes. Vancouver, 1962. (For the translation of the
Stefansson poem).
British Columbia Bureau of Provincial Information. The Population of