The Icelandic Canadian - 01.05.2008, Qupperneq 20

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 61 #2
1 10
The Social Conscience
Margret Benedictsson:
From Iceland to Manitoba
by Dr. Carolyn L. Crippen
Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba
ABSTRACT
Manitoba has been enriched by the
immigrants that came to our province. The
late 1800s were a particular time of pro-
found growth in population, pioneer settle-
ments, and industrialization within the
cities. With this expansion came the stir-
rings for social change that continued into
the early 1900s. One particular Icelandic
immigrant, Margret Benedictsson (1866-
1956), brought her deeply held beliefs and
interest in social change to Manitoba.
Through her service to the Icelandic com-
munities in Selkirk, Gimli, and Winnipeg
she championed the cause for women’s suf-
frage, education, improved working condi-
tions, and human rights. Benedictsson was
an active member of the Winnipeg
Unitarian Church and she harnessed the
energy of the congregation, especially
female members, to work for the women’s
vote, to assist new immigrants find
employment, and to raise money through
tombolas to pay for school tuition for girls.
Benedictsson was co-editor (with her hus-
band, Sigfus) of the first woman’s suffrage
journal in the Canadian west. It was called
Freyja, (woman).
Benedictsson developed a web
throughout the province that connected
Icelanders, Unitarians, women, feminists,
suffragettes, and human rights activists. As
a servant-leader, (one who just wants to
serve society without recognition or com-
pensation and through one’s service
becomes recognized as leader)
Benedictsson helped change the face of
Manitoba for the better. Manitoba became
the first Canadian province to grant the
vote to women in 1917 and the response to
the motion in the Manitoba Legislature
(provincial government) was appropriately
given by a person of Icelandic decent. This
paper details the life of Margret
Benedictsson and her contributions as a
social activist and journalist in the Province
of Manitoba.
INTRODUCTION
The pioneer women of Manitoba hold
an important place in Canadian history.