The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1979, Qupperneq 45

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
43
THE HEKLA SINGERS —A TRIBUTE TO THE
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD
(From the left) Kristin and Erica Stewart-
Hay, Kris Vopnfjord, Tristin Tergesen,
Lindv, Karen and Len Vopnfjord. In the
spring of 1979 a group of talented children
called the HEKLA SINGERS was formed
by Len and Karen Vopnfjord to record a new
Provincial Theme Song MANITOBA com-
posed by Len and Karen. The children are
all of Icelandic descent.
They were invited to perform at the Ice-
landic Festival of Gimli in the presence of
the Fjallkona, Mrs. Olla Stefanson and His
Excellency Governor General Edward
Schreyer and his wife, Lily, also at the
Scandinavian Pavilion of Winnipeg’s mul-
ticultural festival FOLKLORAMA. They
represented Manitoba in the province’s
most ambitious event commemorating the
YEAR OF THE CHILD. They have ap-
peared on T.V. and radio as well as on
several programmes within the province.
They have made a contribution to the
observance of the Year of the Child in Man-
itoba.
ICELANDIC REPORT
On August 19th an Icelandic gunboat
seized a ship owned by the anti-whaling
organization Greenpeace and towed it to
Reykjavik harbour following the arrest of
the group leader. The Rainbow Warrior had
been interfering with an Icelandic whaling
vessel in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of
Iceland. On August 23rd, the Rainbow
Warrior and its crew of 16 were released
from detention after the crew appeared in a
maritime court. This court will hear evi-
dence on alleged unlawful actions on the
whaling grounds and pass on its findings to
the state prosecutor who will decide if
charges will be brought. Several weeks
later, after their arrival in London, Green-
peace spokesmen announced that the group
will take legal action against Icelandic
authorities for detaining their ship and con-
fiscating its equipment.
Prince Charles was forced to cut short a
fishing expedition to Iceland in late August
when he learned of the death of Lord Louis
Mountbatten. The Prince has been a visitor
to Icelandic rivers several times and has
been quoted as being enthusiastic about the
“fantastic” fishing opportunities in the
country.
Thorir Baldursson, one of many Icelandic
musicians who have made a name for them-
selves in foreign parts, has been selected to
do the arrangements for all of the tunes on
the next album of Elton John.
Eliason Insurance
Agency
MAGNUS ELIASON
ALL FORMS OF INSURANCE
791 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg Man.
PHDNE 774-D639
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