The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1977, Side 25

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
23
ceived his Bachelor of Science de-
gree cum laude, in 1903. He was pro-
ceeding towards his Master of Sci-
ence degree when a sudden illness
and death cut short his career, in
February, 1904.
The untimely death of these two
young men of promise was tragic,
but others among the early leaders
lived to realize on the promise of
their student years. To mention one,
Thorbergur Thorvaldson, the young-
er brother of Thorvaldur, became
the head of the Chemistry Depart-
ment at the University of Saskat-
chewan, was awarded the Marshall
Tory medal by the Royal Society of
Canada, and received international
recognition as a scientist.
To be continued in next issue
FIRST WOMAN NAMED TO POST
Valdine Johnson, principal at Elm-
wood High School has become the first
woman appointed area superintendent
in the Winnipeg school division since
the division was divided three ways in
1973.
A teacher and school administrator
for the past 35 years, Miss Johnson will
be responsible for 29 schools in Area 3, a
jurisdiction in the south and west end
of the division.
Her appointment was announced this
week, several days after Winnipeg
teachers criticized school board offi-
cials for the dearth of women holding
administrative positions in the division.
Superintendent Harold Pollock said
fewer women are applying for such
positions and denied charges that dis-
crimination might be involved. Women
don’t know how to get and keep these
jobs, he said.
Two out of nine positions in the super-
intendent’s department are now filled
by women, as are two of the 18 senior
administrative posts in the division’s
central office.
Miss Johnson said it’s true competent
women have been passed over for ad-
ministrative positions, but she rejected
the notion it might be deliberate. “Com-
petent m^n have been passed over too
for hiding their light under a bushel.”
“One has to take the times, politics
and personalities into consideration
too,” she added.
Speaking personally, Miss Johnson
said “I happened to have been the type
of woman who was content with what
she was doing and as a result didn’t
venture into new waters.”
It was encouragement from division
officials which led her to apply for the
area superintendency, she said.
—The Winnipeg Tribune
Miss Johnson’s parents were John and
Olina Johnson, formerly of Piney,
Manitoba, and Winnipeg.
Miss Johnson attended Normal School
in Winnipeg, and has her Master’s
degree from the University of Mani-
toba. — (Editor).
+ + +
Gimli Girl Crowned
Miss Interlake
One of the hi-lites of the Lundar
Agricultural Fair held on June 10th and
11th was the crowning of Miss Interlake.
Colleen Fjelsted, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Asgeir Fjelsted of Gimli was chosen
to wear the crown of “Miss Interlake”