The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Side 14

12
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
WINTER 1971
AT THE EDITOR’S DESK
SEVENTY YEARS AGO, 1901
In January, 1901, the Icelandic Stu-
dents Society in Winnipeg was form-
ed. The first president was Ingvar
Buason, B.A. 1900.
On October 9, 1901, the Board of
Governors of the University of Mani-
toba authorized that Icelandic be add-
ed to the foreign language options at
the University.
Instruction in the Icelandic langu-
age and literature commenced in Oc-
tober at Wesley College (now Univer-
sity of Winnipeg), Winnipeg. The lec-
turer was Reverend F. J. Bergmann.
The Chair in Icelandic was maintain-
ed at the College till 1927.
The Icelandic language weekly
Dagskra II (Daily Chronicle II), ed-
itor Sig. Jail. Johannesson, commenced
publication in Winnipeg. Causes
which the paper espoused included
Temperance, Women’s Suffrage, Soci-
alism, and Religious Freedom. Publ-
ication continued for two years, but
not every week.
Early in the year, Thomas H. John-
son, a Winnipeg lawyer, and later a
key man in the Norris government,
was appointed chief enumerator for
Manitoba for the 1901 federal decen-
nial census.
Gisli Olafson, of Winnipeg, first
Icelandic member of the Winnipeg
Crain Exchange, built the Olafson
Block on King Street, Winnipeg, at
that time one of the largest and most
impressive commercial buildings in
City.
Chxidtmad Candled
Have all the people vanished
Behind their doors tonight
And left the street a desert
Wrapped up in chilly light?
Every house has glassy walls
And doors have changed their style,
But still they wear a candlelight
And beckon with a smile.
—Caroline Gunnarsson