The Icelandic Canadian - 01.11.2006, Page 9

Vol. 60 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
95
The Icelandic Canadian
Club of Edmonton
A brief history
Submitted by Gunnar Thorvaldson
How the Edmonton Club started
The Icelandic club in Edmonton was
established as a result of a visit, in 1933, by
Reverend Marteinsson. He was enroute to
Vancouver when he stopped in Edmonton
to christen little Margaret Henrickson.
Sera Runolfur stopped on the return trip to
preach a sermon.
A reception was arranged at the
Independent Order of Foresters (IOOF)
Hall at 11201 95 street. The well-adver-
tised event resulted in a large turnout of
Icelanders. Somebody in this enthusiastic
group of people of Icelandic heritage sug-
gested that an Icelandic club be formed.
In 1941, July 7th, though the U.S. is
not yet engaged in the Second World War,
President Franklin C. Roosevelt announces
American troops have been moved to
Iceland in order to ward off a German
invasion of the North Atlantic Island.
First Executive
The first organizational meeting was
held at the Jakob Henrickson home, 10157
94A Street. The first Executive was: Jakob
Henrickson, president, Siggi Sigurjonsson,
secretary and Larus Oliver, treasurer. The
first regular meeting was held at the home
of John Johnson, the Edmonton builder.
Later the meetings were held in the Arts
Building on 109 Street.
The Icelandic Club was active until the
Second World War (WWII) and then
lapsed into a dormant period.
After the war, the club was revived and
became known as “Northern Lights”.
Three women, Pauline Mitchell, Margret
Robertson and Lillian Sumarlidason called
every Icelandic name in the EdmontonTel
directory. They started in 1951 and in the
following years built up the club again.
Many meetings were held at the home of
Pauline and Alex Mitchell in Grandview.
The first regular meeting where Jake
Henrickson was re-elected president was
held in 1954. He continued to be a worker
for the Icelandic club and the Scandinavian
Centre until he died in 1974.
Their first meetings were held in pri-
vate homes and later in the Gas Company
Building. Many functions were held in the
Scandinavian Centre while it was in opera-
tion, from 1964 to 1981. It was on the
Yellowhead Trail north of 142 street.
Currently (2006) there is a McDonald’s
restaurant there.
Club Presidents
1954-55 Jakob Henrickson
1956 Stanley Samson
1957-59 Jakob Henrickson
1960 Norman Vigfusson
1961 William Halldorson
1962-63 Gunnar Thorvaldson
1964 Leifur Oddson
1965-66 Walter Arason
1967-68 Albert Arnason
1969 Gunnar Thorvaldson
1970-71 Earl Valgardson
1972-73 Barney Thorlakson
1974 Leifur Oddson
1975-76 Sam Thorkelson
1977-78 Barney Thorkelson
1979-80 Leifur Oddson