August/September 1999 Fálkinn, the ICCT Newsletter

BETTY JANE WYLIE

Betty Jane Wylie was honoured by the YWCA of Greater Toronto with a Woman of Distinction, Arts & Letters, award.

Along with 7 other recipients in different fields, she was given the award at a special dinner held at the Toronto Convention Centre in May.

Betty Jane's new book, "Letters to Icelanders" will be published by CDG Books Canada this summer and she launched it on Cultural Heritage Day in Gimli on August I (the day before lslendingadagurinn). Then she flew to Iceland to give a paper at the triennial conference of the Nordic Association of Canadian Studies, being held for the first time in Iceland.

THE RHYTHM OF PASSING

I'd never even liked Rudy all that much, ever since she bit my thumb. Still, her image now hangs on my office wall, and I chuckle every time I look up at her. Somehow, artist Katrina Koven's painting of her departed feline, "Rudy in Yellow", captured the cat's sense of fun and mischief while still letting you know that here was an animal to be admired, carefully.

Rudy was the only one of the characters portrayed in Katrina's recent showing The Rhythm of Passing, that I actually knew. But that didn't slow the impact of the other pieces or the event as a whole. Katrina put on The Rhythm of Passing at her Toronto studio from June 5 to 8, 1999. Viewing the pieces in Katrina's own space gave the show an open and casual feel, much more welcoming and much less intimidating than the typical gallery event. On the evening I went, I shared the experience with people of all walks, including a university music professor and three small girls in pajamas who substituted art for bedtime stories that night. It says a great deal about Katrina's work that both the professor and the girls were captivated.

Much of Katrina's work is done in oil. and much of it goes far beyond traditional canvas. While many of her most striking pieces (including "Rudy") were done on canvas, Katrina also used wood and even framed windows as backdrops for her oil work. There were also ink drawings, pencil sketches and watercolour and ink paintings. Subjects were as diverse as female forms. flowers from dreams, and drummers in mid-session.

Some of the most popular pieces were the Vinaterta Lady cards.

Katrina displayed a book with an impressive collection of original Vinaterta Ladies, and offered a line of greeting cards featuring many of them. Allow me to explain. For the uninitiated, 'Vinaterta' is an Icelandic-Canadian layered prune torte that, when sliced, reveals thin black and white stripes. Vinaterta Ladies are Katrina's wildly imaginative drawings who also have stripes. and a whole lot more. Katrina's Ladies express the diversity and beauty of women in many moods, roles, shapes and sizes. While no two Vinaterta Ladies are the same, they are all united by their signature Vinaterta stripes and their undeniable pride in being unique women. For anyone who wants a taste of a Katrina's art ( or a great torte!), a Vinaterta Lady card is the perfect place to start, and the perfect way to share this art with a friend.

Katrina's Icelandic heritage came through in other works as well. In Isafjordur, 1893, Katrina depicts what she imagines her great-great grandparents' farm at Krossavik, Isafjordur, Iceland, may have looked like. When asked about Gimli Lakeshore , Katrina described the scene as a female settler walking, hunched over, into a blasting north wind coming off of Lake Winnipeg. looking for her ice-fishing husband who was supposed to be home with beer and decomposing shark-head pizza hours ago." Despite the lighthearted comments from the artist, the piece was haunting and compelling, done in cold, icy Icelandic blues. Reykjavik Harbor brings together two important themes in Katrina's art, women and Iceland. Three fish depicted in the work represent the three generations of Icelandic-Canadian woman on Katrina's maternal. Icelandic side who came before her.

The Rhythm of Passing was a unique experience created by a unique artist. With images from whimsical and witty to serious and sullen, Katrina's pieces all made me stop. And think. Some delighted and others challenged. But all made me want to see more. The evening spent among visions from dreams and imaginings was a welcome relief from the reality of the sticky Toronto summer outside. For those of Icelandic heritage, the Open Studio showing was even more meaningful, an artistic experience and a cultural journey. Leaving nothing to chance. Katrina completed the "Icelandic-Canadian" experience by offering Vinaterta and cups of strong kaffi to all her guests.

Well, except maybe the little girls in pajamas, who had dreams of their own to get to after they left Katrina's studio.

Katrina Koven is a Toronto artist (originally from Winnipeg), of proud Icelandic heritage. She has recently written a biography of her Icelandic-Canadian grandmother, Asdis Sigrun Anderson. Katrina's Vinaterta Ladies have recently appeared in the Icelandic-Canadian weekly paper, Logberg Heimskringla along with an article on Vinaterta written by her uncle, James Anderson.
For more information contact: Katrina Koven.

CLUB NEWS

Thank you to the following members for donations:

Kinmount: Lillian Vilborg MacPherson, Kenneth Kristjanson, Frank and Irene Eyford, Mrs. Gytha Clement, J,S, and Margaret Skaptason, Donald Olsen, Susan E. Sigurdson, Evelyn Trites.

Welcome to new members:

Allan R. Tait (Tampa, Florida), Lou Ann Davidson Lewis (Edina, Minnesota).

25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Congratulations to Darryl and Frances Hogg on their 25th wedding anniversary in July. Darryl is very interested in the Icelandic language and has been taking lessons with the club. His wife (who is not Icelandic) decided to write him a poem which she could present to him in Icelandic -translation was provided by one of our club members; and Darryl was very surprised and impressed by her efforts!

ACCOMMODATION NEEDED

Omar Ingthorsson, a student from Iceland will be studying for his Masters in Landscape Architecture at U of T starting in September. If anyone in the club is interested in renting accommodation

call Don at (416) 585-4499 for further information.

INL CONVENTION IN TORONTO A WINNER!

The 80th Annual Convention of the Icelandic National League has come and gone and we are pleased that all went well. For the first time, people came from both coasts -Victoria on the west coast and Halifax on the east coast -and many more from all areas across the country -58 attendees in all.

The three day weekend began at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, April 30th, when 25 hardy souls gathered outside the Bond Place Hotel for a field trip to Kinmount, the site of the first large settlement of Icelanders in North America. Ably organized by Don Gislason, Jim & Irene Gibson and Gudrun Sigursteinsdottir Girgis, the trip took in the town of Kinmount itself, the area where the settlers lived, the trestle bridge over Crego Creek and the rail-line they worked on. At Kinmount, the group was greeted by local officials, who wished our Memorial Cairn project well. Then they were treated to a delicious lunch by the members of Combined Church Women of Kinrnount. Local historian Guy Scott, who has included a chapter on the Icelandic settlement in his book on Kinmount history, was on hand to tell the story along with Don Gislason of ICCT, who has done enormous amounts of original research. On the way home, the town of Millbrook was visited this was of particular interest to the Einarson family of Virginia, who are descendants of settlers who lived there after leaving Kinmount. Many buildings of the era are still extant, As a bonus attraction, W. D, (Billy) Valgardson of Victoria, B.C. read to the travellers from his about to be published children's book, "The Divorced Kids Club and Other Stories", on the return trip.

Back at the hotel, delegates registered and attended the opening sessions of the convention at 3:30. These included a preview of the upcoming sessions, as well as reports from all the chapter presidents.

After a short break, everyone reassembled for the opening ceremonies, which included a procession featuring both young and old (6 year old Maja Sullivan and her friend II year old Brant Macaulay), guests of honour. and ICCT hostesses in traditional costume. ICCT President Gail Einarson-McCleery and Honorary Consul Jon Johnson welcomed everyone to Ontario, after which INL President G. Ray Johnson officially opened the convention.

Next came a long hoped for moment -the presentation of the first career diplomat from Iceland to Canada -Svavar Gestsson, the new Consul General. He spoke of his joy at being here and his plans to bring to fruition the celebrations of the millennium with much contribution from Iceland. His mission is very much a joint one with his wife, Gudrun Agustdottir, Chair of Reykjavik City Council, and in a lovely gesture of solidarity , he invited her to join him at the podium.

Pat Johnson, Consul General Svavar Gestsson, Gudrun Agustdottir, Ray Johnson Honorary Memberships were presented to Esther (Johnson) Broughton, Birgitta Guttormson Russell Gillis and Sigga Johannson Moore (in absentia) of the Toronto club, as well as Evelyn and Gordon Thorvaldson of Winnipeg. Previous Toronto club scholarship winners, Carolyn Stinson and Mark Johnson, and Past President of the INL Laurence Johnson, who made the presentations, were obviously impressed as was the audience by the accomplishments of these revered members of the community.

The featured speaker of the evening was to have been Sturla Gunnarsson, whose film "Such a Long Journey" is currently winning awards and kudos all across the country. As Sturla was delayed in Los Angeles negotiating his next film, he faxed his speech to his wife Judy Koonar, who gave a stellar performance as presenter. Sturla's theme was the importance of story telling and how central it has always been to Icelanders, first in books and now spreading to the film medium. He emphasized the wonder that a small country such as Iceland has been able to produce a number of successful feature films, and urged us all to be inspired in our creative endeavours.

The reception co-hosted by the Government of Iceland, represented by Svavar Gestsson, and the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto. was the closing event for the evening and gave an opportunity to meet with old friends and make new ones from across the country .

Following opening remarks by Ray Johnson on Saturday morning, Darrell Markewitz brought to life the era of the first settlement by Europeans in North America -that of the Vikings at L. Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland in the year 1000. With the use of slides, recreated artifacts, and quotes from the Sagas, he shed new light on that long-gone time.

Another event from 1000 years ago was the basis for the next speaker's theme -Julius Hafstein, Managing Director for the Millennium of Christianity Celebrations in Iceland, told the gathering about those celebrations being planned for the millennium of the beginning of Christianity. In the year 2000, there will be celebrations all around the country , with a very large celebration at Thingvellur.

The millennium theme continued as David Gislason, Chair of the Canada 125 Commission, and Svavar Gestsson, our new Consul General, outlined the events which Iceland has in store for North America next year, as well as the plans which the various clubs are making for their own celebrations. One of the highlights will be the sailing of the recreated Viking ship "Islendingur" from Iceland, via Greenland, to L' Anse Aux Meadows, arriving July 28th and going on to Halifax for celebrations there. The mind boggles at all the opportunities for honouring our Viking past!

Lunchtime Saturday featured a delicious buffet and another chance to mix and mingle. Then W.D. Valgardson introduced his story "Thor". This was directed by Sue Greenwood, and acted by Thorsteinn Helf, Christopher Greenwood, Brenda Bjarnason and Holly Garrett. They did marvels with a minimal set and brought the story to life in a most convincing way.

First Vice-President Sigrid Johnson chaired the Saturday afternoon session. University of Manitoba Development Officer Sheila Simonson shared her wealth of knowledge on how to run a successful fundraising campaign. Laurence Johnson, Chair of the Godar Council of the INL, explained the important role which the INL will play in this campaign. You can read more about the VIP Millennium program in the article which follows this one.

INL Reports were next on the agenda. Gail Einarson-McCleery reported on the two International Visits which she has organized for this year, that of talented bird carver Einar Vigfusson to show his works, including both Icelandic and Canadian birds, at three venues in Iceland beginning in July; and the cross Canada trip by renowned Iceland Review photographer Pall Stefansson in September/October, and showed some of their work on slides.

Fran Moscall, Chair of the Kinmount Memorial project, gave her report on progress to date. Delegates were treated to a preview of the sculpture being developed by Gudrun Sigursteinsdottir Girgis, which was greeted with approval.

Marketing initiatives by Logberg Heimskringla were explained by Business Manager Harpa Isfeld.. Bill Hurst of the ICCT then spoke about the Icelandic presence on the World Wide Web and distributed a list of informative web sites.

We were pleased that representatives of the new Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia, Dolly Belmore, Glenda Burrows and Marshall Burgess were able to be present to tell us of their progress. They have plans to put up monuments at both Markland in the Musquadobit Valley and at Lockeport, the site of the two settlements in 1875. These will take the form of rock from Iceland (already ordered with the help of Hans Indridasson from Icelandair) which will be mounted on local rock. Considerable work has been done in exploring the area and establishing the location of the foundations of the original homes. In addition to the monuments, they have many other plans, including putting up a replica of one of the houses.

While preparations were under way for the ICCT Thorrablot on Saturday evening, 20 people joined Don Gislason in a visit to sites that the Kinmount settlers saw in 1874; including the church where some of the Kinmount couples got married.

And then it was on with the feast for a sold out crowd of 180 Icelandic appetizers were served, followed by a sit-down meal. ICCT Vice-President Ellen Sigurdson Gilmore presented a $500 scholarship to Conor P. Begley, who has shown an extraordinary interest in Iceland and tremendous scholarship.

Icelandic desserts were introduced by the first public performance of our Ode to the Vinarterta, written by Brenda Bjarnason and her nine year old son, Kaj, to the tune of the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's Messiah, and performed by Brenda, Emily Bergetz, John Gilmore and Garry Oddleifson, and children: Jack McVeigh, Cameron Gilmore, Blake & Kirsten Wollenzien, Maja & Kaj Sullivan. It obviously hit the funny bone of the audience, as some were seen doubled over in laughter!

The highlight of the evening was the Linda Lundström fashion show, featuring her fall line and introducing her new colour of Icelandic blue. Fashions were modelled in a very professional manner by club members, ranging in age from teens to mid-fifties, and co-ordinated by Leah Salt. Linda's speech was an entertainment in itself, ranging from her trip to Iceland last May and experiences with hakarl, to her start in sewing when given a machine by her mother at age 3, to her devotion to helping the native people in her home town area of Red Lake, Ontario.

Other events during the evening included the presentation of a banner to the new Montreal club, represented by David Franklin; a sing-along in Icelandic, the auctioning of a beautiful blanket box featuring Icelandic dancers, the drawing of the winner of two tickets to Iceland compliments of Icelandair (won by Margret Geppert of Calgary), and the fun of bidding on many items in the silent auction, which was so ably organized by Garry Oddleifson. And, of course, the most interesting part of the evening was the interaction between all those Icelanders.

The next day saw the presentation of IN L reports, election of the 1999/2000 executive (Ray Johnson continues as President); hammering out a policy for the International Visits program, and discussion on many important issues. There was a lively debate about setting a day aside as Leifur Eiriksson Day -should it be during the Icelandic Celebration, or the same day as it is celebrated in the U.S., October 9 (arrival of Norwegians in U.S.) or October 21 (arrival at Willow Point), or September 23rd, (when the Kinmount group arrived in Quebec City)? A decision was delayed pending further discussion. Connie Clark put in a bid for Edmonton to be the host city in 2003, and Vancouver reconfirmed their bid for 2001.

People seemed pleased with what had been accomplished, with the entertainment and with the downtown hotel, which allowed them the chance to shop and explore in their spare moments, as well as providing friendly service and excellent food. Many kudos to Convention Co-Chairs Fran Moscall of ICCT and Kristine Sigurdson of the INL for a job very well done!

VIP PROGRAM

The Icelandic community, strongly supported by the academic community, is undertaking the VIP (Valuing Icelandic Presence) Millennium Campaign in support of the "Icelandic Presence" at the University of Manitoba, It is ideally situated in the heart of the largest concentration of people of Icelandic descent outside of Iceland, The University of Manitoba is the only institution, outside of Iceland, granting degrees in Icelandic and has gained international status to deem the study of Icelandic as a separate discipline within the humanities. In order to continue the support of the Department and to maintain and enhance the Collection, the VIP Campaign has a minimum fund raising goal of 1.65 million dollars, required to meet current needs and to preserve and enhance the "Icelandic Presence" at the University, The Icelandic Collection in libraries at the University is recognized as one of the finest research libraries in the field of Icelandic Studies and has acquired the most important Icelandic publications,

The funds to be raised are allocated as:

The Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto is invited to take part in this VIP process. We will continue to inform our members and friends as plans proceed. If you would like to assist in the fundraising effort and/or give a donation, please contact Garry Oddleifson, (416) 463-1324.

ICELANDIC PHOTOGRAPHER PALL STEFANSSON ON CROSS CANADA TOUR

World renowned photographer Pall Stefansson will be appearing in Toronto as part of his cross-Canada tour organized by the International Visits Program of the Icelandic National League of North America.

Pall has been picture editor for the quarterly magazine Iceland Review since 1985 and his work appears there as well as on the pages of the in-flight magazine of Icelandair, Atlantica. He has also published a number of books, and won many awards.

Entitled "Images of Iceland", the show which he will be bringing to us concentrates on the landscape, flora and fauna in Iceland. Since we are on the cusp of celebrating the millennium and the 1000th anniversary of the first visits to North America by the Vikings, he has decided to include some pictures of Greenland, from which Leif the Lucky sailed on his epic voyage. For the photographic enthusiasts in the audience, he will give advice on how to depict landscape -how to capture the essence and not overdo it. The differences between producing pictures for short lived publications such as magazines in contrast to those which might endure a lifetime in a well-presented book will also be discussed, Pall will show that landscape photography should not be seen as an opportunity for the photographer to superimpose his own image but something which respects and shows nature as it really is.

You have an opportunity to see Pall's marvellous slides in Toronto on Thursday, October 7th, as part of a cross Canada tour organized by the International Visits program of the Icelandic National League. Pall's show in Toronto is being presented as the opening lecture in the 1999-2000 series of the prestigious Toronto Camera Club at their headquarters at 587 Mt. Pleasant Road.

We have forty reserved seats at $7 each -if you would like one, please contact Gail Einarson-McCleery.

Sponsorship for Pall's cross Canada tour has been provided by Leica Cameras of Canada, Icelandair, Iceland Review and the Icelandic National League of North America and its chapters.

ATTENTION ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND WRITERS Do You WANT TO GO TO ICELAND?

Have you heard about the International Visits program? It's an initiative developed by the Icelandic National League to nurture cultural ties between Iceland and Canada. Each year the program helps an individual from Canada to go to Iceland or from Iceland to Canada.

So far, the program has focussed mainly on the visual arts, starting with the cross Canada tour of Adalsteinn Ingo1fsson in 1997, who showed landscape art from the National Gallery In 1998, artist Patricia Guttormson Peacock from Vancouver took her paintings to Hofsos This year, two visits are planned -bird carver Einar Vigfusson is in Iceland now, and photographer Pall Stefansson will be touring Canada in the fall.

At the moment, we are planning for a visit to Iceland in the year 2001. Since the visual arts have been well represented so far, and writers have had many opportunities in the past, we thought we might give preference to a musician this time around. Not that we won't consider other members of the cultural community -if you are interested in this idea, p lease let us know.

The application form can be downloaded from the INL website, located at:
http://usersimagnet/~sry.rasgeirs/News/lntnl_Visits.htm

Paper copies can be obtained from: Gail Einarson-McCleery, Director, International Visits Program, 84 Morningside Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6S IC9, email: icegem@compserve.com Fax: (416) 762-7107.

Applications should be made through your local chapter of the Icelandic National League, so please contact them to request sponsorship of your application. Chapter names and contacts are listed on the INL web site under Chapters. The deadline for receipt of the applications by the INL is September 30th, so don't delay.

CANADA'S ICELANDIC PIONEERS IN ONTARIO: A MEMORIAL CAIRN

Canadian history remains buried in Kinmount, Ontario, a village in Victoria County perched on the edge of the Precambrian shield. Kinmount has an Icelandic past, yet no visible markers recognize Icelandic settlers who helped develop this community in 1874/75. No headstones tell of those who died and are buried there. Nor does Canadian history recognize the contribution of these pioneers to other Icelandic settlements in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada, including Nova Scotia and Manitoba. Don Gislason has uncovered this story through diligent research and has told the story in serial form in this newsletter.

The ICCT, on behalf of the Icelandic National League, will erect a memorial cairn in Kinmount and dedicate it to these pioneers on July 31, 2000 It will be installed at the railway station next to the site of the railway these pioneers helped build This location can be found in the centre of the village on the banks of the Burnt River.

The memorial cairn will consist of a sculpted work set upon a concrete base. Recessed in the base will be three plaques, one on each of three sides telling the story of Kinmount's Icelandic settlers. Text will be in Icelandic, English and French. Some landscaping will complement the cairn.

Work has begun on the sculpture. Gudrun Sigursteinsdottir Girgis received delivery of a 2-ton Indiana limestone piece on July 1, 1999 in Haliburton, where an ideal worksite has been found. She made the first strike of the mallet and chisel on July 2, 1999Since then she has "rounded the corners", "defined the empty spaces"' and is now "shaping the image". Visitors have gone to the worksite to satisfy their curiosity and to give support. The word is spreading! She does welcome visitors now that the project is underway and is pleased to discuss her 'work in progress' with those interested. Should you plan to visit Haliburton you could call for directions: Fran Moscall, Chair of the Kinmount Icelandic Memorial Project, at (416) 221-6453 (until August 24th and after September 19th).

Born in Iceland, Gudrun chose Canada as her home in 1972 thereby fulfilling a childhood wish to live in this country. Having pursued studies in Iceland and Sweden, she continues her art education in Canada most recently with George Pratt, an accomplished sculptor formerly from Haliburton now living in Vancouver. Gudrun is self-employed having formed her own company 1ce and Fire twelve years ago.

The Icelandic National League and the ICCT is pleased that Gudrun is volunteering her talents and energy to sculpt a fitting memorial to our 1celandic pioneers.

KISUM AND THREE QUARTETS ON CD

This CD includes four chamber works by Thorkell Sigurbjornsson The works span 25 years of the composer's life. the Hasselby Quartet composed in 1968 and, the newest. Visit composed in 1993. Kisum was composed at the request of The Swedish Institute for the Nationwide Concerts to be performed in 60 concerts in high schools and junior colleges across Sweden.

The Hasselby Quartet was commissioned by the Cultural Centre of the Nordic Capitals in Hasselby Palace just outside Stockholm. It was premiered in autumn 1968 of the Nordic Music Days in Stockholm.

The Copenhagen Quartet was instigated by the Nordic House in Reykjavik and its director Dr. Erik Sonderholm and premiere during the Reykjavik Arts Festival as part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Nordic House.

Visit In 1993 eight composers from 5 countries were asked to send greetings for the 150th anniversary of Edvard Grieg This is Sigurbjornsson's contribution.

Thorkell Sigurbjornsson, born in Reykjavik in 1938, is one of the most prolific of Icelandic composers today. He is also a teacher of theory and composition at the Reykjavik College of Music. He has appeared as a pianist both in concert and in recordings. His catalogue includes orchestral works solo concertos. clamber works. electronic & computer works. chamber operas. songs and choral music both sacred and secular.

The CD & additional information is available from:

The Iceland Music Information Center, Sidumuli 34 108 Reykjavik Iceland
Tel (+354) 568-3122 FAX: (+354) 568-3124
e-mail: itm@mic.is and website: http://www.mic.is

THE ICELANDERS OF KINMOUNT

On May 29th, 1875 Jonasson submitted a household count to the Department of Immigration in Toronto. Of the original 352 passengers from the St. Patrick. only one-hundred and fifteen remained in the shanties and fifty-three on farms in adjacent townships. And twenty-four had died. The rest had gone to places such as Lindsay. Cambray. Omemee and Toronto for work in sawmills. as general labourers and domestics. Also, quite a number were already in Nova Scotia. The community was drifting apart.

Leave-taking for Nova Scotia was noted by the nearby Fenelon Falls Gazette. As early as the end of March. Yellow journalism made its ugly appearance The editor made sport of sleigh-loads of Icelanders passing through the village. immigrating en masse to Nova Scotia. But most of them were en route elsewhere hoping to find work at places like Millbrook, a railway and mill town 25 miles southeast of Lindsay. As it turned out, thirty-five of them lived there for about twelve weeks, scraping together enough money for their trip to Nova Scotia. Two young couples, Jonas & Sigridur Hallgrimsson and Thorsteinn & Fridbjorg Jonsson, stayed on for two years before moving West. The Jonsson's only child had died shortly after arriving at Hayford. But another was born in Millbrook. The article goes on with a sarcastic twist in their departure is not much to be regretted, for if their love of whisky be as powerful as is reported. they are likely before long to furnish a pleasing admixture of red noses amongst the blue noses, for whose country they have always expressed a preference. A great many of them died... which is easily accounted for by their frightfully unhealthful manner of living, crowded together in their shanties until the atmosphere is rendered positively unendurable to any but themselves for more than a very few minutes at a time.

Jonasson countered the attack by reminding the editor that he should occupy himself writing about matters he knew something about, and closer to home. Indeed. it was in poor taste to attack a group of poor immigrants who were trying to improve their lot. Also, the statement about intemperance was without any foundation. During the same month The Canadian Post carried an article to the contrary, wondering how in spite of overcrowding, they were able to keep themselves, their children and their 'apartments' as clean and tidy as they do.

By early spring, it had become abundantly clear that remaining in Ontario would not do. Stories of free homesteads with rich soil in Manitoba were running unabated in Ontario. 'Northwest fever' inspired Canadians and immigrants alike to move on. At this juncture, John Taylor and Sigtryggur Jonasson hurried to Ottawa, seeking support from the government towards establishing a colony there. At first, officials showed little interest. Up to this point it was generally viewed that Icelanders had brought little benefit to the country. Besides, no funds were designated for assisting immigrants from one part of the country to another. The situation seemed hopeless until:

Lord Dufferin, the Governor General. [of Canada] interceded. He had visited Iceland when a young man and had great admiration for the islanders. He pointed out that the Department of Agriculture might legitimately help to establish these settlers on western farm land. On his request. the department financed a delegation to go west to select a suitable locality for the colony. (Jean Elford)

A meeting was held in Kinmount on May 30, 1875. Sigtryggur Jonasson, John Taylor and Einar Jonasson were elected as a committee. Federal assistance was on condition that Taylor be part of any deputation Two other men joined the exploration party, offering to pay their own way. They left Kinmount on the 2nd of July for Winnipeg.

During July. sickness broke out again in the shanties. An inspector from the Department of Immigration rushed to the site.

Eight leading businessmen of Kinmount. including Fridjon Fridriksson. petitioned the Department on behalf the young doctor. praising him for his dedication and successful treatment of his patients. The Government eventually settled with the good doctor, and Fridjon's store continued giving credit to indigent Icelanders One of the sick men in the shanties, unable to work. was indebted to him for $20.94. The inspector was convinced that the sick man and his wife would have gone hungry, were it not for Fridriksson coming to the rescue.

By June, fifteen Icelanders had found work about 50 miles to the west on the Northern Railway at Washago. at $1.l2 a day with board. From July on into September about twenty-five were earning good wages with the same company at Gravenhurst. Muskoka District. Travel costs were often unaffordable. The brothers Samson and Fridrik Bjarnason. Along with four other men, walked over fifty miles through forest trails to Muskoka in search of railway work an arduous task, battling black flies and mosquitoes along the way. Others were wresting a living from farms north of Kinmount and by some accounts, doing well. So far. the weather had been agreeable. Two had actually purchased land. An itinerant railworker wrote home to his brother in Iceland:

In the meantime, the exploratory party in the West had decided on a location for a reserve, about fifty miles north of Winnipeg. It was in the District of Keewatin. NWT outside the 'postage stamp' province of Manitoba. and would be called New Iceland. The size and location were ideal. It measured 42 miles long by 10 miles deep and included a large island, along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. It boasted plenty of timber, a waterway to Winnipeg, fishing, sloughs to provide wild hay, rich soil inland and no grasshoppers. The area south of Winnipeg had been plagued that summer by grasshoppers. darkening the sky and devouring crops in their wake. But most of all. it was a large tract of land where they could preserve their language and culture No one thought of the severe climate, isolation or the potential for flooding.

When the delegates returned to Kinmount in August, 1875 they reported to the anxiously waiting settlers. They rushed to Ottawa with a detailed written report, promoting the new district. Again, technical difficulties were overcome through the patronage of Lord Dufferin. Having travelled to Iceland and written a book, Letters From High Latitudes, he had an affinity for these people. Through his strong recommendation, and despite a policy to the contrary. a grant for relocating thc Icelanders to the District of Keewatin was eventually made.

Taylor was appointed Icelandic Agent by the Dominion Government, with twenty-six year old Fridriksson as interpreter for the group Historian Jean Elford states that on September 15. 1875. John Lowe. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture instructed Taylor that funding was confirmed. and that:

Those proceeding to Toronto from Kinmount were to stay at the immigration sheds. Tickets to Winnipeg were furnished by J.& HI. Beatty & Co. of Toronto at $14 per adult. children under twelve. half price and under four years free. with the usual amount of baggage free. An additional $1500 was added to get the group from Winnipeg to their reserve. Taylor was hired for eight months at $100 per month to help them settle at a site they would call Gimli, "abode of the gods" in Norse mythology.

Jonasson quickly set out to reach their scattered flock. The vision of starting up again, in a promised land spread rapidly. It was couched in the general excitement for the opening of the West. Within a week of receiving the go-ahead from Lowe:

By September 21st, well over two hundred Icelanders had regrouped in Toronto. Jonasson felt that matters could now safely be left in the hands of Taylor. He returned to Iceland as a Canadian agent to attract further settlers to the new colony. Thousands of people had been left destitute by volcanic eruptions in the east central part German Evangelical Church (Lutheran) Bond Street of the island. Jonasson was only twenty-lour years old, with a great deal of experience and a fund of knowledge under his belt.

Their numbers in Toronto grew as stragglers from various places including the Muskoka District joined up. It's estimated that about 270 souls finally assembled. On the 24th. two couples celebrated by marrying in the First Lutheran Church on Bond Street. The next day. September 25th, 1875. one year to the date the St. Patrick passengers first found themselves in the immigration sheds. they set out on their journey West. The first stop was the lake port of Sarnia. Simonson wrote in his memoirs.

On the morning of the 26th the group boarded the wooden steamer Ontario, bound for Duluth, Minnesota. Luggage and cargo were loaded first. Next cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry were squeezed in. Finally, the immigrants were jam-packed on top of the luggage and not permitted to move about. It was like a floating barnyard. The trip over Lake Huron. through the locks at Saulte Ste. Marie and across Lake Superior took five days. At one point, the ship stuck rough weather, and being top heavy it rolled about in the waves. Many passengers became seasick, and the stench from the livestock didn't help.

The ship proved fairly unstable against the waves. Two of the crew were kept busy throughout rolling sand-barrels against the list. Certainly. the trip proved cut rate in value and service. After all. the government had paid only $14.00 each, with an additional $300 for their baggage. The usual ticket fee to Winnipeg was $35.00 per adult. To be sure. there was great relief when the ship reached Duluth, a town described by one of the immigrants as comparable to a small trading village in Iceland. Thirteen of their countrymen from Wisconsin. who had been waiting fur about a week. joined the group here. This was a joyful event.

On a Saturday. the group left Duluth by the Northern Pacific Railway for the Red River. They stopped en route at Glyndon. staying two nights in a small warehouse. where Taylor decided to conduct a church service. He gathered the people into a railway roundhouse and the text was "Behold I send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way. and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared", with Fridjon translating as best he could. He genuinely believed he had a calling and a responsibility for these Icelanders. After the service one of them commented: "He must think that he is a chosen leader like Moses. Who knows but he may be." At the end of the evening the place was filled with lively dancing and accordion music.

The following day the sternwheeler International met the party at Fisher's Landing on the Red Lake River, [a small tributary of the Red River], southeast of Grand Forks. Dakota Territory. Some Mennonites joined them here for the trip north to Winnipeg. But as the vessel was too small for all the passengers. two barges were attached to the steamer to carry the majority of settlers and their loads. Conditions en route to Winnipeg were such that:

With the District of Keewatin on the horizon, their thoughts turned to a better future. This move was solely their decision after living through a time of great hardship in Ontario. The record shows that by June, 1875 the St. Patrick passengers had suffered grievous loss of twenty-one children, a girl of seventeen and two elderly and infirm women, mostly within two months of arrival. In addition, out of eight children born there, five perished. An estimate by Simonson gives upwards to thirty children dying, plus about ten adults.

If you would like to make a donation towards the Kinmount Memorial, please make cheque payable to: The Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto.

Mail to: John Gilmore, ICCT Treasurer, 31 Wild Cherry Lane, Thornhill, ON L3T 3T3