The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2004, Blaðsíða 15

Vol. 59 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
13
form of democracy. The people have their
freedom; they can express themselves, use
their imaginations. They can work hard. So
the future of this province is limitless.
Kevin: People sometimes regard the
hand of Destiny in their lives; personally, I
refer to this as the Hand of Providence.
How do you see Providence working in
your life so far?
Mr. Harvard: I think I have been a very
fortunate person. I have a humble back-
ground; my mother and father farmed. In
middle age my father, also a carpenter,
became a building contractor. I am a first
generation Icelandic Canadian. My father
was born in Vopnafjor>ur in 1891; he came
here in 1903. My mother was born here in
1897, just shortly after her parents arrived
from Iceland. I am number eleven of twelve
in a very large family. I came from humble
beginnings, and luck has played a part in
my life. When a teenager, my mother told
me to join a young profession, one with a
bright future. Given my interest in public
affairs, back in the late 1950s I thought that
radio provided the best opportunity for
me. I have no regrets; I was lucky. I grew
with the industry, the radio business, and
then with television. I obtained my own
radio show back in the late sixties. I
obtained my own television show in the
seventies. As a result, my name became a
household name in Winnipeg, and that I
later parlayed into a political career. Now I
am the lieutenant-governor. Is that
Destiny? I guess. Is that God’s hand? Who
am I to question that? I do not know how
to describe these things. For me, very
often, the stars have lined up properly. I am
thankful and humble. I do not know who
writes these things down or who decides.
As part of my centrist philosophy, I do not
attempt to make attributions. I only know
that some very good things have happened
to me. I do not know why. I know I have
worked hard, but there is more than that. It
is not just me that made these things hap-
pen; fortunately I married a wonderful
woman, and I have a wonderful family,
great friends, a lot of supporters in my life.
I like the title of Hilary Clinton’s book, It
Takes A Village, about raising a child. That
can apply to adults as well. It takes a com-
munity, or it takes a country for you to
find your way. I am thankful for what has
happened to me, but there are a lot of peo-
ple I have to be thankful for.
Kevin: By every measure, your life has
been a great success. What do you think
will be your most lasting contribution?
Mr. Harvard: I do not know that. I
hope that after five years I will be remem-
bered for some work I have done in this
office. I hope to have directed attention to
these early childhood development disor-
ders. Hopefully, through my hundreds of
speeches through five years or more, I will
have left a greater appreciation of this
province and its history. In my speeches, I
intend to focus on certain events in
Manitoba’s history, on certain personali-
ties. I have not developed a strategy yet,
but I do want a strategy that will incorpo-
rate some of the history of the province in
my speeches. Manitoba’s history is fasci-
nating. We did not get to the place we are
today by accident, numerous key events
occurred. I want to remind Manitobans, as
much as possible, about their beginnings
and of their history. I have a lot of work to
do yet.
Kevin: In closing, on behalf of the
Icelandic-Canadian magazine, I would like
to offer my congratulations on your
appointment as Lieutenant Governor of
Manitoba.
Mr. Harvard: Thank you.
Kevin: Are there any final words you
wish to address to our readers?
Mr. Harvard: I am a very proud, first
generation Icelandic Canadian. While I am
a Canadian to my very core, a Canadian
born and bred, I am cognizant of my her-
itage, cognizant of my past. I am proud of
the Icelanders who came here well over a
hundred years ago, back in the 1870s,
courageous people. They faced unbeliev-
able adversity, cold climate and disease