The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2006, Side 6

4
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 60 #1
Editorial
by Erla Wankling
As President of the Jon Sigurdsson
Chapter IODE, I am honoured to have been
asked to write an editorial on our organiza-
tion in this our 90th Anniversary year. As I
reflect on the history of the Chapter, I am
continually amazed at the significant contri-
butions its members have made, over the
years, to the Icelandic community and to the
community-at-large. This group of energetic,
hard-working women place great value on
their Icelandic heritage and, while remember-
ing it, serve their Canadian community faith-
fully and diligently through their extensive
service work, their love of education and their
love of meaningful citizenship.
The National Chapter of Canada IODE
was formed in 1900 as a national, patriotic,
women’s service organization, with active
Chapters in every province of Canada.
During their most active period there were
thousands of members of IODE throughout
Canada. On March 16, 1916, due to the
efforts of Mrs. J. B. (Gudrun) Skaptason, 25
women joined as Charter members to form
the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter, choosing the
name of the great Icelandic patriot and states-
man.
The first years, 1916 to 1918, when mem-
bership reached a high of 150, the Chapter
was involved in the war effort, sending
parcels to service personnel overseas. Their
work carried on after the war, when assis-
tance was given to returned soldiers and their
families. Similarly, during World War II,
members were engaged in Canada’s war
effort sending parcels of hand-knit articles
and other comforts overseas, as well as visit-
ing veterans in hospital and helping those in
need. “Welcome Home” receptions were
held at the Royal Alexandra Hotel after both
wars, the first in 1919 with an attendance of
600 people and the second in 1946 with 700
people attending.
In 1923, these determined, energetic
women published Minningarrit Islenzkra
Hermanna (in Icelandic) containing pho-
tographs and service records of over 1,300
soldiers, sailors and nursing sisters of
Icelandic descent who served with Canadian
and United States armed forces during World
War I. In 1990, the Chapter published anoth-
er monumental work, Veterans of Icelandic
Descent, World War II and, in 1993, pub-
lished A Supplement to Veterans of Icelandic
Descent World War II. These publications
contain brief biographical and genealogical
sketches, as well as many photographs, for
over 2,240 men and women of Icelandic
descent who served with the Canadian and
United States armed forces. More recently,
the Chapter has been involved in a partner-
ship with the Book of Life-Vesturasttir in
establishing and maintaining a website for
information from these three publications.
Ryan Eyford, presently a Ph.D. student at the
University of Manitoba, with support from
the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter, was instrumental
in establishing the website which he contin-
ues to maintain. Veterans who were missed
altogether, or lacked a picture or biography,
can still be included. The website is:
www.bookoflifeonline.com/Veterans.htm
The Jon Sigurdsson Chapter has sup-
ported many programs in schools. In the
1930’s, the Chapter assisted in the purchase of
library books for the school at Hecla, MB, a
program that ran for many years. Presently
the Chapter is supporting Mulvey School in
the inner city of Winnipeg with gifts of arts
and crafts material, books, games, mitts and
toques. Last year the Chapter presented
books to a teacher at Lord Nelson School for
her special needs class. To participate in the
National Chapter IODE “Read for Life
Program”, the Chapter presented books to
each of the children between ages one to six
years at a community-based program at the
Magnus Eliason Community Centre.
Donations are made each year to women’s
crisis centres in Winnipeg and to projects ini-