The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2003, Qupperneq 34

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 58 #1
‘Sigurbjorg Stefansson School.’
Miss Stefansson has been a member of
the Gimli Women’s Institute for nearly
fifty years during which time she has made
many important contributions and for
which she was made an honorary life mem-
ber of the Manitoba Women’s Institute.
She was the first secretary of the Evergreen
Regional Library Association and in recog-
nition of her service she was made an hon-
orary member of the Manitoba Library
Association. She received honorary life
membership in the Manitoba Teachers’
Society and a citizenship award from the
Manitoba Historical Society in 1970. She
has also been a long-standing member of
the Icelandic National League which hon-
ored her with a life membership...”
Her interest and concern for the stu-
dents who passed through her classes won
her continued respect and gratitude in the
community.
She passed away in 1985 but in 1996 she
was given a posthumous award. Her name
was entered in the school division’s ‘Hall of
Fame’. The inscription on the plaque there
sums up the story of her career: “The
Evergreen Foundation of Manitoba honors
Sigurbjorg Stefansson for outstanding con-
tributions to education in the Evergreen
School Division.”
She translated the first edition of
Framfari, the first newspaper in New
Iceland, for Col. Jim Dunlop of C.F.B
Gimli. He decided to use the name of that
first newspaper as the name of the station
publication. She was later recognized by
the Station with a medal for community
service.
Miss Stefansson donated the lot where
the Evergreen Regional Library Building.is
located. The establisment of the Library
was, in many ways, a “ dream come true”
for her. Her special input and her gifts to
that institution are of continuing benefit.
Her early training in Icelandic history
and literature fostered a lifetime interest in
these subjects. Her work in translating and
compiling pioneer history and anecdotes
added much to the edition of Gimli Saga.
Her assistance was sought by many stu-
dents of Icelandic-Canadian literature. She
was respected for her knowledge and inter-
pretation and for dedicated research when
that was required.
Shortly after Miss Stefansson’s death
Ethel Howard wrote about her friend in an
article which was entitled “A Tribute to a
Great Person.” Her final sentence bears
repeating here: Miss Stefansson “has (so)
many memorials, in the school, the com-
munity, the library, Gimli Saga, and in the
hearts and memories of all who knew her.”
Heda Provincial Park
Riverton P.0. Box 76
Heda Island. Manitoba
ROC 2R0
Phone.- 204.279.2088
Email: holt7.@mb.sympaiico.ca
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