The Icelandic Canadian - 01.08.2001, Qupperneq 31

Vol. 56 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
113
A Toast to Solskin
On the occasion of their 75th Anniversary
by Robert Asgeirsson
Volunteer organizations have con-
tributed greatly to our quality of life in
Canada. It can be said that volunteer orga-
nizations are not a burden on the taxpayer,
in fact, they help to lighten the load by pro-
viding needed services to the community
that would otherwise have to be paid for by
taxes.
To all willing and generous volunteers
we extend our sincere gratitude.
One of these remarkable volunteer orga-
nizations started up in Vancouver in the
year 1917. It consisted of a group of
women who were of Icelandic descent and
who had abundant energy. They called
their association, “Solskin,” meaning
“Sunshine.”
Many of those first members had just
moved to the Vancouver area and felt a
need to be in touch with other Icelandic
women. The times were not easy and in
banding together these women received
mutual support from each other. But their
purposes were larger than their immediate
personal needs.
Solskin took on a great many charitable
tasks, both in the Icelandic Canadian com-
munity and in the community at large. The
reader of their 75th Anniversary book enti-
tled “Solskin Memoirs” will be astounded
at the scope of their work over these many
decades.
Of the many admirable qualities shared
by the ladies of Solskin, the one that seems
to distinguish them, in my opinion, is their
wholesome sense of ‘motherhood.’ That
characteristic encompasses their sense of
caring, nurturing and selfless giving. They
are ‘mothers’ whose sense of care extends
beyond their own immediate families, and
to them we are very grateful.
In the earlier days of Solskin, attention
was focused on sending relief to soldiers of
Icelandic origin in both World Wars.
Among other charitable activities they also
sent donations of food and clothing to both
the Russian Relief Fund and the Hungarian
Relief Fund.
They have not worked in isolation. In
these past 75 years, the ladies of Solskin
have also worked with other Icelandic
Canadian organizations that have included
The Icelandic Care Home, Hofn and The
Icelandic Canadian Club of British
Columbia. Each of these organizations is
extremely grateful for the help extended to
them.
In their quiet and gentle ways the mem-
bers of Solskin have proven themselves to
be a foundation pillar of our Icelandic com-
munity. Their efforts are a shining example
for us all to follow and I think it is safe to
say that the ‘Icelandic spirit of community’
is alive and well in Solskin.
I ask you now to join me in a toast to
Solskin, and to all its members, both past
and present. We thank you for all the work
and kind deeds that you have done, and it
is our sincere hope that Solskin will contin-
ue to flourish for at least another 75 years.
Solskin Special Birthday Poem
Afmasli en er j^itt
Astkjazra “Solskin” mitt,
Lif Jdtt og lof ma ei dvina,
Pakklteiti ]aer se tjad
Pin fyrir rad og dad
Er ljet mein oft ljosid ]aitt skina.
Af alhug eg unni jper
Fyrir allt sem ad varstu mer
Nasrveru er notid fjekk Jainnar.
Minning {un munakjserd
Mun J)a eg veri fjasr
A farbordum forsjonarinnar