January/February 1999 Fálkinn, the ICCT Newsletter

Travel

We have now found a Travel Agency which specializes in Iceland -talk to Leena, or Aira at Scandinavian Travel Centre, 191 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto M4P 1K1, 1-800-263-7454 or (416) 482-0555 - they have enclosed a flyer to introduce themselves.

Models Needed

If you are planning to come to Thorrablót, and would like to be one of our models for Linda Lundström's fashion show, please call Leah at (905) 820-2611 or Fran at 221-6453.

Musical Evening

March 16th will be a musical evening featuring younger club members playing classical guitar, keyboard, flute, and singing.

In the News

• All-Icelandic computer game – The world's first all-Icelandic computer game has been launched by a company called Dimon Software. Known as "Timmaflakkarinn," the time traveller, the game features an Icelandic boy who travels back in time to participate in major events in Icelandic history.
• A group of Icelandic librarians has created an index to Icelandic Internet websites. It was officially opened by the Minister of Education, Björn Bjarnason, at the public library in Seltjarnarnes. The address is: http://www.vefbokasafn.is

"Independent People" chosen Book of the Century!

In a recent survey carried out by the British Independent newspaper to find the best book written this century, the author Fay Weldon chose Icelander Halldór Laxness's "Independent People" for the honour. Weldon described the novel, published in 1935, as reminiscent of the Great Russian works of the 19th century, with the overview of Tolstoy and the humour of Evelyn Waugh.

She praised the translation by J.A. Thompson and said that sadly the book is not well-known in Britain, as British readers are not interested in reading works in translation by authors with funny names. Hopefully, Weldon's recognition of "Independent People" might encourage a few more readers to go out and discover Laxness for themselves.

1999 Annual INL Convention in Toronto

Date: April 30, May 1 and 2

Location: Bond Place Hotel downtown (convention rate $89)

Registration: $85

Opening - Friday night, Luncheon Saturday featuring dramatization of the children's book "Thor" $20, Thorrablót Saturday night including Linda Lundström Fashion Show $30.

We are looking for someone to help with the DJ duties. If you can help, please contact Garry Oddleifson at (416) 463-1324.

Icelandic Classes

The Intermediate class has decided to change their format, and will be starting Conversational classes Tuesday January 26th. Guðrun Sigursteinsdöttir Girgis has agreed to help out as a teacher. They will take place at the Bloor Street Café (on the North side of Bloor West at Walmer Road), starting at 7:30 p.m. Call Gail at (416) 762-8627 if you would like to join us. In the meantime, we are still looking for more beginners in order to start a beginner's class.

New Books Donated to the Library:

Sigga Moore has donated a book in memory of Unnur Dora Gunnlaugsdottir Hagan:

TVO Series for Teenagers and Parents

A new half-hour series named "Wexford" debuted Saturday, January 23rd at 4:30 on TVO. Designed for children aged 10 to 15, it is meant to help them deal with such common issues as peer pressure, bullies, anger, criticism and abuse. The last episode is directed at parents and discusses common problems they have in relating to teens. This six part series was developed by film-maker Leif Bristow and his wife Agnes, a social worker who has specialized in teens and their families. That's Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. on TVO.

Raffle

A book of raffle tickets is enclosed. Our first prize is a trip for two to Iceland, compliments of Icelandair. Proceeds are being used for scholarships and millennium events. Please note that raffle tickets must be returned, sold or unsold.

Club News

Thank you to the following members for donations:

Helen Piitala from Elliott Lake (Icelandic flag), Sigga Moore (Millennium Gala), Joe & Sally Martin, Kay Sigurjonsson (scholarship fund), George & Esther Wellington, Donald & Norma Young, Vilborg Wilson (library books), Tom & Adrienne Einarson (Iceland Review Subscription), Peter Erlendson (website), Ingibjorg Olson Lane (Icelandic classes), Ed & Margaret Eggertson, Eric & Evelyn Sigvaldson (general), Kinmount donations: Connie & Ralph Magnusson, Lorna & Terry Tergesen, Allan Tait, June Parker, Tom & Adrienne Einarson, Lorelie Mitchell, Barry Whitney, Sandra & Jim Dixon ("in memory of my great-grandparents, Gisli Einarson & Elinbjorg Gunnlaugsdottir, buried at Hekkla, Ontario"), Mike & Evelyn Trites, Vern & Fran Austman, Beverly Fillmore, Brenda Bjarnason, Marion Johnson & Peter Denny, Bill & Laufey Hart

Welcome to new members:

Mary Agnes Holland (Toronto), Kristin Gasmann (Toronto), Bruce, Donna, Kristoffer and Robin Pedlar (Willowdale), Valgeir Bjarnason (Guelph), Kenneth & Ingibjorg (Inga) (Magnusson) Harrison (Simcoe), Bob & Trish Gilmore, Jennica, Greydon and Geoffrey (London).

Deaths

Our condolences to Membership Director Don Gislason on the passing of his sister, Dagmar Eunice Clarke, aged 59, of Agassiz, B.C. on December 13^th, 1998.

Our condolences to Arni and Marjorie Swanson on the death of their son, Alan Ragnar Swanson, aged 51, of Winnipeg on November 5^th, 1998.

Sveina Dahl (nee Sveinbjörg Jónsdóttir) passed away on October 23^rd, 1998 in Wiarton. Our condolences are extended to her family and friends, and to her daughter, Jean (Dahl) Moore. Sveina was born on October 18, 1896 in Klömur, Iceland and had recently celebrated her 102^nd birthday (Oct/Nov Falkinn). Sveina's long and eventful life included many travels and travails, all of which she championed.

Sveina then went to Denmark, having won a scholarship from the Queen of Denmark for nursing. After three months, she had difficulty with the language and quit to take up tailoring. On her way to Denmark she stopped off at her sister Gudni's farm home. There she met a young Dane, Rasmus Hansen, who was there on a scholarship to study agriculture. They were engaged in 1923. Rasmus decided to go to Canada and see what it had to offer as there was a depression in Denmark. He took up the fourth homestead in Pass Lake which became a Danish settlement.

Sveina came to Canada on the ship "Frederick 18" to Halifax on her way to Pass Lake, Ont. She worked for a jeweller's family and then in the hotel in Port Arthur to learn the language. She married Rasmus in April, 1925. He had lumber saved for their new home, but unfortunately their lumber caught fire. He went out west to the harvest to try and make some money for new lumber and windows. He was struck by lightning and died. Sveina was devastated. In November, another travesty occurred leading to the premature birth of her daughter Molly. The doctors didn't expect Molly to live. However, to please Sveina they kept her alive with heat from hot water bottles, as there were no incubators then. Sveina brought her home to the log cabin and kept her warm with eiderdown pillows and hot water bottles.

Sveina contacted her cousin Harding who had come to Winnipeg. He came to her rescue, built a log cabin and bunkhouse at Black Bay and set up fishing camp. Sveina & Molly lived in the cabin and Sveina did the cooking for Harding and his hired man. Sveina was afraid to put Molly outside for fear the bears would steal her, as they raided the screen boxes regularly.

In 1926 Sveina went to Winnipeg and North Dakota to visit her cousins. A situation arose when a man tried to take her homestead from her as he didn't think women should hold property. The Danish Councillor, Mr. Berg, wrote to her and told her to hurry home. Sveina met and married Anders Dahl, a handsome Dane, on October 16, 1927. Valdemar was born a year later, September 19, 1928 and Jean on March 26, 1930.

Now the little frame house had to be expanded as Grandpa Dahl and three sons came to stay. Grandpa went back to Denmark four years later. Homesteaders life, living off the land, was not easy. Deer were plentiful, so when someone shot a deer, they shared the meat with neighbours as there was no refrigeration in the summer.

In the early thirties, Sveina carded & spun wool from their sheep, knit mittens and socks for the fisherman and bush workers for cash. The depression years 1929 through 1939 were very difficult for the pioneers as cash was very scarce. She was a terrific baker though and cook. She made the best bread and buns, kringler, etc. Anders ground rye, and Sveina baked rye bread. They smoked meat, pickled meat, made rullupylsa, blood sausage, headcheese, etc.

The children always hurried home from school, 1½ miles through the woods, to see who was visiting. The home was the stopping place for people to get warmed up before travelling further. The coffee pot was always warm and kringler in the oven. Sveina was the heart of the community. She was their "nurse", their babysitter, their party-giver, their shoulder to cry on and advice-giver.

Molly became a school teacher, Valdemar a conductor on the railroad, Jean a manager of foreign divisions in the CIBC Bank in Halifax. We all married and Sveina has left behind has six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Anders Dahl passed away in 1975. Sveina was devastated. They were having such a good time together, having retired from farming, just doing a little gardening. She lost her sight a year later, just retaining her peripheral vision. She could not see to read or see faces, but could still play cards by holding them low. She learned to play bridge at age 85. She spent her winters with Molly & Horace in Chicago, spring and fall in with Jean & Jerry, and summers on the farm. Valdemar retired and spent his summers up there. Molly & Horace built a summer home up there. After Sveina turned 90, she has lived with Jean & Jerry and summer holidays on the farm as she became afraid of flying after a bad trip. The last two years she stayed in Toronto. She enjoyed going to the Icelandic Club and going to Thorrablót including spring of 1997 when she was 100 years of age!

Births

Tyler MacKenzie Gingrich was born on September 10^th, 1998 to Scott and Jennifer Gingrich of Waterloo. Tyler is the fourth grandchild of Isabel Einarson Gordon.

Year 2K Means a Celebration for Icelanders

The newspapers are constantly full of horror stories about what might happen at the beginning of the year 2000, but that milestone has a different meaning for us - it's a good news story about the 1000th anniversary of the discovery of North America by Icelandic Vikings!

Specifically, Leif Eiriksson's voyage to and sojourn in Newfoundland. And we are going to celebrate! Here are a few highlights to look forward to:

• Iceland will be sailing a replica Norse vessel from Iceland to Greenland, to L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland - arriving July 28th, 2000
• Dedication of our monument to the first settlers at Kinmount, Ontario July 31st
• "The Saga of Guðriður" - a play chronicling the first woman to give birth to a European child in North America
• Erection of a statue to Guðriður in Ottawa
• A gala celebration of Icelandic talent in Toronto
• Icelandic film festival and a writer's festival
• A puppet theatre for children

All these events are in the planning stages now, and if you'd like to get involved, please call Gail at (416) 762-8627 - it's going to be a whole lot of fun!

The Icelanders of Kinmount, Ontario

We have received a number of encouraging letters on this project:

If you would like to make a donation towards the Kinmount Memorial, please make cheques payable to: Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto. Mail to: ICCT c/o John Gilmore, 31 Wild Cherry Lane, Thornhill L3T 3T3.

Viking Chatters

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday season, I know I did! One of the things I looked forward to most was my aunt's Vinnetarta. It's funny - she doesn't really consider herself Icelandic, yet every year she brings us this yummy dessert on Christmas day. It's interesting how families follow traditions without even thinking about it.

Here's hoping you're all ready for an eventful new year. The Viking Committee has some wonderful things planned for this winter, and we invite all of you to come join us!

Viking Pub Night

We're all meeting upstairs around 6:00 pm. Rebel House's appeal is its unique menu and delicious food. Many of its recipes come from old Canadian cookbooks, some dating back to the 19th century. This cozy little pub also specializes in "ales" of the world. The prices aren't bad either! For more information, please call Leah at (905) 820-2611.

Viking Movie Night

We are going to show the 1995 movie entitled Cold Fever. Again - you comment? No, not again - we haven't had a proper showing yet :) Cold Fever is a really interesting film by Fridrik Fridriksson about a Japanese man who goes to Iceland to retrace his parents' roots.

This night will be really informal - come, relax and watch a great movie. Please RSVP with Leah at (905) 820-2611, or email oceanroses@yahoo.com.

Scholarship Opportunity!

The ICCT is offering a scholarship open to all high school students in their final year, as well as university students. To be eligible, all you need to do is fill in the application form sent to you earlier and write a short essay on your Icelandic heritage. Deadline is January 31st.

ICCT's Christmas Party

This years Kid's Christmas Party was a great success despite the fact that mother nature called for plenty of sunshine and record high temperatures for this lovely afternoon in November.

We started the afternoon off with some crafts- there was something for everyone to create - from candycane reindeers to pom-pom buddies for the older kids. Rumour has it; there were even some adults at the table doing some colouring too!

When the kids finished their crafts, we all had a great time playing musical chairs to the tune of Christmas carols. Carol McGirr then told the special Icelandic story of the Jólesveinar - a group of 13 sneaky elves who start arriving shortly before Christmas.

At the end of the afternoon, we all gathered around and did the traditional dance around the Christmas tree to Icelandic Christmas songs. Santa joined the circle for the last song, then gave the kids some Christmas goodies.

A special thanks to everyone that contributed and helped organize the party, especially to Ethel Strang who donated a brand new tree.