The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2000, Page 13

Vol. 56 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
I 1
Minister of Transport and Communication,
Siv FriSleifsdottir, Minister of the
Environment and the Bishop of Iceland, Karl
Sigurbjomsson, also made visits to Canada
during the millennium year. And Svavar and
Gudriin were there to welcome them. It has
been Svavar’s main work to co-ordinate and
organize these events through his office and
with Gut)rim to be the official greeters. That
title, Special Envoy for the Millennium
Affairs scarcely begins to describe the special
events and tremendous activities that have
taken place over the year.
It helps that the dynamic duo at the centre
of all this activity are good friends as Svavar
and Gudriin are. Who better to help us enter
the new Millennium for Canada and Iceland?
More than just a smiling figurehead, how-
ever, Svavar has hopes and plans for the
Western Icelandic community, which will
include the entire American continent.
Although at present there are strongholds of
Icelandic culture in Canada, Svavar com-
ments that we need at least one chapter (club)
in each Canadian province, as well as in all
the larger cities. He reports that right now
there are two chapters in British Columbia,
three in Alberta, and one for all of
Saskatchewan. He says we need a chapter in
Newfoundland, in Nova Scotia (Markland is
getting strong), New Brunswick, and Prince
Edward Island. The ICCT (Icelandic
Canadian Club of Toronto) is very strong and
doing good work, but Svavar would like to
see a chapter in Ottawa as well. That accom-
plished, it will be necessary to connect the
chapters so that they interact and co-operate
with each other, and then - reach out to the
chapters and associations in the United States.
You may be surprised by what you learn,
and they may be too. I attended the Icelandic
Celebration in Mountain, North Dakota last
summer (1999) and was startled by the differ-
ences between that and Islendingadagurinn in
Gimli. Of course, Gimli’s is the oldest,
biggest celebration on the continent. Be that
as it may, Svavar thinks we all need to co-
operate and reorganize on a national scale. He
reports that the Icelandic government has
already responded to this need by hiring a
special staff person to work at the Foreign
Ministry on ties with North American organi-
zations.
The peak of the year was at the Islendin-
gadagurinn in Gimli, when Lloyd Axworthy,
Minister of Foreign Affairs for Canada,
announced the establishment of a Canadian
Embassy in Iceland.
“This is the most important recognition of
our work in Canada on behalf of the Canadian
nation,” says Svavar Gestsson.
Who knows? We may settle once and for
all whether or not vinarterta should be iced
and whether it should have five or seven lay-
ers.
With files from Logberg-Heimskringla: an
article by Gunnar Isfeld, a letter by Gudrun
Agustsdottir, a speech by Svavar Gestsson.
PHARMACISTS:
Ernest Stefanson
Garry Fedorchuk
Claire Gillis
642-5504
PHARMASAVE
We care
about your health
Centre and Fourth / Gimli MB / ROC I BO