The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2009, Side 8

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 62 #3
sioning a life size sculpture of Sigtryggur to
be installed on the banks of the Icelandic
River at Modruvellir in Riverton.
Sigtryggur arrived in Canada in 1872 at
the age of twenty, the first permanent
Icelandic settler in Canada. In 1875 he was
in the delegation that selected the area of
New Iceland for an Icelandic settlement
and played a major role in having the area
set aside and reserved for the exclusive set-
tlement of Icelanders. Instrumental in the
drafting of the Constitution of New
Iceland, Sigtryggur was elected as the first
Governor of the four districts created by
the constitution.
Sigtryggur’s list of accomplishments is
long and impressive. He was instrumental
in establishing the region’s first Icelandic
newspaper Framfari, financing this venture
to a large extent and editing for a time. He
founded a lumber and transportation
empire on Lake Winnipeg in partnership
with Fridjon Fridriksson, thus providing
both the critical employment and positive
vision needed to sustain the colony.
Sigtryggur was also a ship’s captain, one of
the founders of the Icelandic weekly
Logberg, a benefactor of the First Lutheran
Church, immigration agent for the govern-
ment, advocate for improved transporta-
tion in Iceland (whose efforts led to the
eventual founding of Eimskipafelag, home-
stead inspector, and Member of the
Legislature of Manitoba. Another of
Sigtryggur’s notable achievements was his
success in lobbying the federal and provin-
cial governments to extend the railroad to
Gimli and later to Arborg and Riverton.
Jonasson’s original homestead on the
west bank of the Icelandic River,
Modruvellir, is considered the most appro-
priate location to honour this visionary
leader of Icelandic settlement in Canada.
During his occupancy from 1876 to 1881,
this site near the Riverton Centennial Park
served as Government House for New
Iceland, as well as a cultural centre housing
the district’s first school, the post office
and the editorial base of the Framfari.
Jonasson’s home also became the head-
quarters of New Iceland’s first major cor-
poration, a shipping, mercantile and
sawmill enterprise.
The final resting place of Sigtryggur
Jonasson (1852-1942), ‘Father of New
Iceland’ and one of the most remarkable
Icelanders to immigrate to Canada, is in the
Riverton Cemetery, on the east bank of the
Icelandic River, a half-mile south of
Riverton. Here Sigtryggur lies among his
kinsmen, on the bank of his beloved
Icelandic River in the heart of New
Iceland.
IRHSI has commissioned an 18 inch
tall bronze standing statue of Sigtryggur,
standing next to a tall stump with telescope
in hand, and satchel with map over his
shoulder, and depicted in authentic period
clothing as an explorer. The statue is
expected to be completed in the near
future. The Board plans to commission the
life sized bronze statue shortly after receiv-
ing the 18 inch prototype in order that it
may be ready for unveiling in conjunction
with the expected designation of
Sigtryggur as a Person of National Historic
Significance in the summer of 2010.