Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.12.2019, Qupperneq 8

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8 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • December 1 2019
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PHOTO: ANNA BIRGIS
Jórunn Kristinsdóttir, Johanna, and Anna Birgis on the magic day
PHOTO: STEFAN JONASSON?
The birthday reception at Neil Bardal Inc.
Stefan Jonasson
More than two hundred people gathered in
Winnipeg on Saturday, November 16, to
celebrate Johanna (Jo) Wilson’s 100th birthday
– a milestone that some of us have been anticipating for
the past five years when Jo first announced her plans for
her personal centennial. Needless to say, Jo has always
been supremely well organized, so there was no way she
would ever leave things to chance or defer arrangements
to the last minute. I was delighted (and a little relieved)
when my formal invitation arrived in the mail.
Throughout the afternoon, photographs of Jo and
her family scrolled by on a screen at one end of the hall,
while a lavish spread of foodstuffs graced banquet tables
at the other end – including Jo’s own world-famous
vínarterta. Friends and family mingled throughout
the hall, sharing personal stories and anecdotes while
catching up on old times. Jo’s social connections extend
far beyond the Icelandic community, so it was striking
to see how many people were present from her wider
network. One of my wife’s cousins was there, as well
as a former neighbour she grew up with, and I saw
several acquaintances from my own activities in politics
and education. “How do you know Jo Wilson?” was a
commonly heard question. The diversity of the crowd
was a testament to Jo’s broad influence across the city.
Sólskríkjan Kór, the city’s Icelandic choir, sang a
selection of favourites under the direction of Kerrine
Wilson and Jo’s son, Frank, presided over the formal
part of the afternoon, attaching stories to some of the
pictures rolling by on the screen. Consul General Þórður
Bjarni Guðjónsson brought greetings from the consulate
and read a short message from President of Iceland
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
Anna Birgis, the wife of former consul general
Hjálmar W. Hannesson flew in from Iceland especially
for the occasion. There was a smaller celebration
at home for family and close friends on Jo’s actual
birthday, which fell on Friday, November 15.
An educator by profession, Jo was the home
economics department head at Vincent Massey
Family and friends join Johanna Wilson to celebrate her 100th birthday