The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2006, Side 13

Vol. 60 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
11
Valtyr with the Order of the Falcon
culture, he especially praised their interest
in building an Icelandic library and univer-
sity. From Winnipeg Valtyr and
Thorsteinn Erlingsson, who had joined
him, traveled to Argyle. There Valtyr met
his mother, Valdis Gudmundsdottir and
his step-father Simon SImonarson, along
with his youngest sister, Gudrun “whom
he now saw for the first time.” As you can
imagine this was a joyful reunion as such a
long time had passed since I had seen my
family and relatives.
A well-spring of ideas.
Valtyr spent about three weeks in
Canada, mainly in Argyle and Winnipeg.
He kept his eyes open and was impressed
with many things he saw; he was very
interested in railway transportation for
Iceland. Today, 110 years later, that has
still not happened in Iceland. He chal-
lenged his fellow countrymen to follow the
example of Western-Icelanders in many
respects and reminded them that they have
received good and useful suggestions, both
through letters they have written to friends
and relatives, but also in articles in papers.
He pointed out that soon many Western-
Icelanders will want to travel to Iceland to
see their country of origin “they are very
interested in visiting the places of their
youth; about 100 of them are planning to
travel “home” at the turn of the century,
and some have begun setting money aside.”
He also mentioned the “Icehouse” idea
freezing plants, which came from the
NordaTs in Canada and became a reality in
Iceland. He also mentioned that the market
for Icelandic literature had increased, since
the Western-Icelandic settlements began
growing. And he said that presently more
Icelandic books are bought in America
than in Iceland; but of course the econom-
ic conditions have an effect on that. He
continued, and answered at the same time
voices in Iceland which tried in every way
to stop people from moving to North
America. “There is no way we can stop
people from moving West by reviling
America and Western-Icelanders, and
denying them what is true and fair. That is
not fair play either. It would be better to
join hands and work at increasing produc-
tion, improving transportation and job
opportunities, that people would know
they had opportunities in Iceland. It would
also undoubtedly prove very opportune if
Icelandic farmers would send their young
sons to America to stay for some time to
learn from their countrymen. Although
farming methods were quite different, their
eyes would open for many things and they
would be able to improve on many things
when they returned, if only it was to teach
people how to use new tools.”
When Valtyr left Canada, his mother
and Simon gave him a gold watch. Nothing
needed to be said. But a gold watch, would
have been nothing but a dream, back in
Hunavatnssysla in 1874.
During the next few years he contin-
ued to encourage Icelanders to familiarize
themselves with progresses relating to the
job market and transportation abroad and
his stay in North America was a well-
spring of new ideas and suggestions to him.
Willard Fiske, Arthur M.Reeves and
Caroline Foulke Urie.
His sister, Gudrun, was teaching in
Arnes when Valtyr arrived. He heard that
she was a good teacher and that the stu-