The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2004, Side 16

14
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 59 #1
before the turn of the twentieth century.
Look where they are today! I have enjoyed
the benefits or belonging to this family, the
Icelandic Canadian family. They have a
particular fortitude, a particular strength.
Icelandic Canadians honour their heritage,
but they live in the present, and live for the
future. Icelanders integrate, adapt and
adopt. Clearly, though, their allegiance is
to this great country. Canada benefits
when her citizens retain something of their
unique cultural heritage, blending it into a
new land. I am proud of the family I belong
to, but I am Canadian to the absolute core!
I do not think that makes me exceptional at
all. Other Canadians feel and think exactly
the same way. That is one of the reasons
why Canada is so great. Unfettered, we can
give our all to this country, as citizens of
Canada, and yet we can use our back-
grounds as an aid, to give us a broader per-
spective in our own country. It is a good
blend.
This interview was conducted on
Tuesday, 20 July 2004 in room 235 of the
Manitoba Legislature, the Lieutenant-
Governor’s office. For more details on the
office of lieutenant-governor, please con-
sult their website at www.lg.gov.mb.ca.
Editor’s Note: The Honourable John
Harvard, P.C., O.M. was recently invested
into the Order of St. John of Canada by the
Chancellor of the Priory Council of
Canada. The Investiture Ceremony took
place at Government House in Winnipeg,
Manitoba on Wednesday, September 29,
2004.
PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS PROCAYLO
John Harvard during his time as a Member of Parliament with Prime Minister, Jean Chretien.