The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2000, Blaðsíða 12

Vol. 56 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
10
No one can speak of an Icelander without
mentioning books. The most literate people in
the world brought books with them to Nyja
Island and started a newspaper and a school
within the first year of their settlement. The
new Consul and his wife brought books, of
course, but they have also been reading the
works of Western Icelanders, Canadian writ-
ers who have been influenced by their
Icelandic roots. Gudrun has been giving her-
self a little course, not only the work of our
contempories. She says she’s impressed with
the writing of Laura Goodman Salverson, and
of course, of our famous poets, Stephan G.
Stephansson and Guttormur Guttormsson.
She’s been so busy, you wonder how she has
found time to read.
Svavar is a career diplomat with a long his-
tory in Icelandic politics and international
affairs. He was a member of the Icelandic
Parliament for 21 years (1978-1999), serving
as Minister of Commerce and Trade; Minister
of Health; Minister of Social Affairs; Minister
of Culture and Education. Before entering
politics, he was Editor in Chief of the
Reykjavik daily newspaper, Thjodvijiin from
1971 to 1978, published articles in most
Icelandic papers, and a book, Perspectives
(Sjonarrond, 1995).
Gudrun, too, has maintained an active
career. She is the Vice President of
“Reykjavik, a Cultural City of Europe.”
Various European cities have been designated
“Cultural City” since Melina Mercouri, a for-
mer Minister of Culture of Greece, suggested
it. (Athens was the first city to receive the
honour in 1985.) Until this year only one city
per year has received the distinction;
Reykjavik applied for the Cultural City title
for the year 2000. Gudrun chaired the com-
mittee for the preparations, convinced that
Reykjavik would be chosen.
“We had concentrated on the year 2000,”
she said, “as it has [such) historic signifi-
cance.”
Reykjavik was indeed chosen, but as one
of nine cities because the year 2000 is such a
milestone for so many people. The cities are
Reykjavik, Bergen, Helsinki, Brussels,
Cracow, Prague, Avignon, Bologna, and
Santiago de Compostella. Each city has a
theme; Reykjavik’s is “Culture and Nature,”
highly appropriate for this elemental land of
Photo by Gail Einarson McCleery
Svavar Gestsson and Gudrun Augustdottir taken at
Gimli celebration, October 21, 2000.
fire and ice (all that geothermal energy!). The
special events taking place this year comprise
the largest cultural enterprise Iceland has ever
undertaken, supported by its government and
the city of Reykjavik itself in the amount of
$12,000,000 CDN, in addition to other contri-
butions from institutions and individual citi-
zens - not bad for a country with a population
of fewer than 300,00 people!
So: language, grace, charm, energy, educa-
tion, information and hard work, all necessary
qualities to fit one for the Consulate. Add to
that stamina, poise, and all the instincts of a
good host. During the millennium year many
Icelanders visited Canada, among them the
President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grfmsson
- an official visit, invited by the Governor
General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson. Then
the Prime Minister of Iceland, David
Oddsson, dropped in, at the beginning and at
the end of the celebrations. Halldor Asgrlms-
son, Minister of Foreign Affairs, came to
Ontario in the summer and unveiled a monu-
ment at Kinmount, an original sculpture by
Gudrun Girgis, specially commissioned.
Halldor Asgrlmsson brought with him a very
special gift: 500 sets of the Icelandic Sagas to
the Canadian nation, to be strategically placed
in libraries across the country. (Wish mine
was one of them!)
A week before that, Asgrlmsson was on
hand to welcome the crew of the Viking Ship,
Islendingur to the coast of Canada. Bjorn
Bjarnason, the Minister of Education and
Culture, Valgerdur Sverrisdottiur, Minister of
Industry and Trade, Sturla Bodvarsson,