The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1994, Qupperneq 47

SPRING 1994
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
157
Caroline, on the job,
as editor of the
Women's Section of
the Free Press Weekly
Prairie Farmer.
However, in Canada, her nickname
was ‘Lena,’ and this she did not like,
so she chose the English version of
her Icelandic name and has been
Caroline ever since.
Caroline’s family left Iceland in
1914 to settle in Saskatchewan, near
Churchbridge, in the bingvalla
community. At that time Caroline was
ten years of age. Fond family
memories kindle a warm smile on
Caroline’s face as she tells of
pioneering hardships but close family
ties. Her parents were Gunnar
Gunnarsson and Groa huriSur
Magnusdottir. Gunnar was bom at
Innri-Aslaksstodum, Vatnsleysu-
strond and Groa huridur was bom at
Einarsstodum, Stodvarfirdi. Caroline's
siblings are Inga Gislason and Helga
Sauer, both of Vancouver, and Hrefna
Eyolfsson of Thunder Bay. Her sister,
Jonina, and brothers, Eyjolfur and
Gunnar, have died.
Even as a young girl, Caroline was
writing. She prepared submissions for
the Icelandic children’s periodical
, Sol skin, but they were never sent.
She recalls selling a Christmas story
for $5, which was a lot of money in
the pioneer days.
She recalls that a big disappoint-
ment in her younger days was not
having sufficient funds to attend the
Chautauquas concert when it came to
her area. The main speaker was none
other than Mrs. Pankhurst, the
suffragette worker. Caroline, even at
that young age was highly aware of
the women’s movement.
Poverty was commonplace in the
bingvalla community. Water was a
precious commodity in Saskat-
chewan, and Caroline proudly tells of
her father’s farm having had one of
the best wells around. She also has
wonderful tales to tell of the diviners
and their search for water. Her
questioning mind is fascinated by
such things. She has shared these
tales of diviners, and well-diggers with
the youngsters at the Icelandic
Language Camp. Caroline is a good
storyteller as well as a good writer.