The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1974, Síða 44

4 2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SPRING 1174
personnel and workshop chairman,
over 300 persons attended these ses-
sions.
The conference was convened by
Hon. Stanley ITaidasz, minister of
State Responsible for multicultural-
ism, and chairman of the conference
was Senator Carl Goldenberg.
Icelandic Canadian members were
Dr. P. H. T. Thorlakson, of Win-
nipeg; Dr. W. Kristjanson, of Win-
nipeg, representing the Icelandic Na-
tional League, and Mr. Gu.stav Trygg-
vason, of Richmond, B.C., Treasurer
of the Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C.
Present was a person well known in
the Icelandic community, Dr. Watson
Kirkconnell, of Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
At the the opening session, Hon.
Hugh Faulkner, Secretary of State,
stressed that the English and French
have much to gain from multicultural-
ism. Hon. Stanley Haidasz, Minister
of State for multiculturalism, stressed
that uniformity is not essential to
unity .Tolerance and mutual respect
of the individual citizen is the foun-
dation of society. Senator Paul Yuzyk
used a phrase that has often appeared
in the Icelandic Canadian, "Unity in
Diversity”.
On the first day of the conference,
which met in the old Union Station,
now converted to such uses, six work-
shops assembled in separate rooms. On
the second day there was a plenary
session where all conference members
assembled. There was provision for
simultaneous translation of English
and French over earphones at all the
sessions.
I mention the six workshops with
the possibility in mind that even the
mere mention may stimulate thought
and discussion.
1. Tire arts in a multicultural society.
The theme was the encouragement of
literature annd the arts as a vehicle
for cultural pride.
2. The attitude of youth to multi-
culturalism. The theme was the rejec-
tion of ehnic background by some
young people and a deliberate search
for their cultural identity by others.
3. Overcoming inequity. This refer-
red to deeply entrenched barriers of
prejudice and overt discrimination.
4. The immigrant in a multicultural
society.
5. Language and culture retention.
6. The preservation of our multi-
cultural heritage. The theme suggests
museums, galleries, archives, libraries,
and language publications.
In No. 6 workshop, to which I was
assigned, some valuable suggestions
were made and valuable information
given. Also, following the sessions, I
was able to make a brief visit to the
National Ethnic Archives. I wish to
mention specifically the courtesy of two
staff members, Mr. W. Neutel and Mr.
W. Senchuk.
The National Ethnic Archives has
a program of making available to the
public copies of documents of histor-
ical value. This includes records of