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November 2000 Fálkinn, the ICCT NewsletterA Visit With" W.D. VALGARDSONSunday, Nov 5 Join us to meet Bill Valgardson again - he will read from his latest work "FRANCES", a children's novel. The following excerpt is from a review in the "SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL ":
"Valgardson has created an interesting and well developed cast of characters with realistic personalities. "FRANCES" is an enjoyable, quick-paced contemporary novel with a setting and culture rarely presented. It makes a splendid addition to the numerous intergenerational stories and many other fine books in which characters explore their family trees"
- Helen Poster James, Univ. of California
W.D. VALGARDSON received his education at the University of Manitoba and the University of Iowa. He is currently the Chairman of the Dept. of Creative Writing at the University of Victoria. He wrote many articles for refereed journals and periodicals; books of poetry, short stories and novels before turning his hand to children's literature. His many awards include the Mr. Christie Award for Thor, the Books in Canada award for Gentle Sinners as best first novel of the year, and the 1999 Governor General's Award nomination for The Divorced Kids Club and Other Short Stones. 2:30 P.M. Sunday, November 5th How to get to Swansea Town Hall:
JOLATRE SKEMMTUN - Seventh Annual Kids' Christmas Party
Date: Location: Adults can do some Christmas shopping while the kids are having fun. There will be tables with an assortment of Icelandic-Canadian books, videos, T-shirts, pins and more. Each family should bring a plate of goodies.! There is still time to reserve your craft tables with Leah Salt. Please call to confirm your table at e-mail her at oceanroses@yahoo.com. Christmas Cards -The Icelandic WayAre you always the type who has good intentions, but never seems to find the time to write Christmas cards to family and friends? This year, log onto www.simnet.is/gardarj/ as send them an Icelandic Yule card via e-mail!
JollaskemturThe Christmas Cat From: www.simnet.is/gardarj/ The oldest written sources on the Yule Cat are from the 19th Century. These refer to the fact that those who do not get a new item of clothing destined to become offerings for the Yule Cat. It may sound strange that the deprived ones will also become the sacrifices, but this tradition is based on the fact that every effort was made to finish alt work with the Autumn wool before Yule. The reward for those who took part in the work was a new piece of clothing. Those who were lazy received nothing. Thus the Yule Cat was used as an incentive to get people to work harder. Yule - Jo1 - Jul. What Does it Mean?For close to a thousand years people have tried to explain the meaning of the name "Yule" to no avail. Some scholars believe it comes from one of the names of Ódinn, others have even theorized that it came from the name of Julius Caesar. It has also been suggested that Jo1 is derived from the Old-Nordic word for wheel: Hjo1, the theory being that the wheel of the year has come full circle, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been more attempts at explanations than one can shake a stick at. Certainly the exact meaning of the original word is something we shall never know. This ancient festival is shrouded in mystery, but has left us a beautiful word describing a delightful occasion. Good Yule - Gledileg Jol!
BITS AND PIECESIcelander wins Olympic MedalIcelandic pole-vaulter, Vala Flosadottir, earned a bronze medal at the recent Olympic Games in Sydney. This is the first track and field Olympic medal for an Icelander since 1956, when triple jumper Vilhjalmur Einarsson won silver. The last Icelandic medal winner was Bjarni Fridriksson, who picked up the bronze for Judo in 1984. DonationsThanks to the following for donations to the Kinmount Project: Linda Collette of Winnipeg, Magnus & Margaret Thorlakson of Scarborough, Stephen Thorlakson & June White of Lillooet BC, Margaret Bradbury of Bay Roberts NFLD, Fred Thorlakson of Edmonton, and James & Stephanie Bradbury of Minden - and to an anonymous donor to the Vikings in Canada Gala. Welcome to New MembersBill & Elaine (Hallgrimson) Osbome & Alexandra of Stouffvitle. Heritage CalendarsThe Icelandic National League 2001 Heritage calendars are now available. You can order them for mailing, or pick one up at a Club event. Great gift idea, as well as being a keepsake. The ICCT is always well represented in the calendar, so be sure and get yours. ICCT Club Library
Our nice little collection, catalogued and stored, is still a 'problem looking for a solution'. It is felt that it's present home is not satisfactory. The business of 'borrowing and returning books can only happen at club functions at the Unitarian Hall. If you have any ideas that would help, please let us hear from you. Contact Ellen - Ph (905) 889-9937. CondolencesCondolences to Bill & Karen Hurst, and to Marilyn & Paul White on the loss Bill's and Marilyn's father William D. Hurst, and to his wife of 64 years, Gytha. Mr. Hurst was man of achievement in Winnipeg, where he was a lifetime servant of the people as an engineer, holding very senior positions in that city. He was widely acclaimed for his effortsin the terrible 1950 flood. This acclaim includes his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada. Kinmount and Gala - Good $ News
For anybody that has been worried that "Something this good must be costing a bundle", - it didn't. Our treasurer reports that both projects are in the black and that we didn't use money that was earmarked ('if the need be there') for these major events. Many thanks to all the contributors who supported these fabulous undertakings and to all of those that were involved, and especially a big 3 cheers to the people who did the work, chiefly Gudrun Girgis, Eric & Gail (Einarson) McCleery, and Don Gislason. Icelandic-Canadian Art Display
Tom is a member of the Northumberland Artisans and his studio was on the annual Northumberland Studio Tour, providing an excellent opportunity to once again promote the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Vikings. Tom's artistic qualities were well represented throughout his studio. Joan Albert's Prairie Quilt series was intermingled with Tom's larger installations as were the art works of Leslie Cochrane. Works by Katrina Koven (and Rachel) also added to the brightness of the studio. And two pieces of sculpture by Gudrun Girgis helped draw attention to the entire display. Visitors came and went both days, and many enjoyed discussions with the artists about their work, as well as hearing about the arrival of the Vikings 1,000 years ago. Contributed by George & Joan Albert
CBS Comes to IcelandEd Bradley, a host of the CBS television news show "60 Minutes', arrived in Iceland last Friday to interview the CEO of 'deCODE genetics', Kari Stetensson, for a program on the Icelandic Heath Sector Database which is to air on CBS. A seven-man crew from "60 Minutes" has been in Iceland for the last week preparing footage for the programme. Aside from Stefansson, Bradley will be interviewing doctors and members of the government, as well as opponents of 'deCODE.' There is no word yet as to when the programme is scheduled to be aired. UPCOMING EVENTSChristmas Craft Show
Our friends at the Scandinavian Club are holding their 8th annual show on Saturday, November 11th from lOam - 3pm at the Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church, 25 Old Mills Rd. (York Mills Subway). Admission $1.00. There will be a tearoom with pastries, etc. This may be a chance to pick up some Scandinavian Christmas gifts, and meet our Nordic friends. "Midnight Sun", the play written by Maja Ardal, from which she and her son Paul Braunstein read at the "Vikings in Canada Gala' on Aug 1st is being presented in both Toronto and Ottawa in 2001. It opens at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto on January 23rd, directed by Andy McKim. The Ottawa dates are March 6th to 17th at the National Arts Centre. Katrina Koven has an Art Show ICCT member Katrina Koven opens an Art Show in Winnipeg, at the Chiendog Gallery, to run from October 20th to November 7th. The gallery is at 72 Princess St. (3rd Fir) - Winnipeg (204)946-0590 And, holding up his end in the artistic vein, Katrina's husband Steven Koven will release the latest CD by the Steve Koven Trio, entitled Not by the Elbows, on the on the evening of October 23rd, at the Montreal Bistro, Sherboume & Adelaide Sts, here in Toronto. Icelandic Movie and MusicOctober 27th, the Caput Ensemble of Iceland will be appearing with the New Music Concerts at 8pm at the Church of St. George the Martyr, at 197 St. John St. to be preceded (at 5 pm) by a screening of Tears of Stone' (on the life of composer Jon Liefs). Art Show Opens In London, Ontario"At Last Sight", a show of photo-based works by Vancouver artist Ami Haraldsson, opened on October 13th at the London Regional Art & Historical Museums. Ably Mcurated by Anne Brydon and introduced by herself and Consul General Svavar Gestsson, the show features large scale photographs of architecture in Iceland, India and Israel. The colourful images of town of Sandarkrokur and the city of Reykjavik are particularly evocative, showing the relationship of the buildings to each other and to the sea. The show runs to December 3rd. WE GET LETTERS
From: the Snorri Program,
Asta Sol Kristjansdottir: I assume that most of you have heard of the Snorri Program. It gives young people in North America, from the age 18-23+, who have an Icelandic background, an opportunity to discover their roots in Iceland in a six-week program during the summertime. This summer was the second year the program was running and it was VERY successful. It offers a 2 week 'cultural program' in Reykjavik, and a period of 3 weeks where participants live, and work in an area preferably close to their ancestral home. This year there were 13 very enthusiastic and intelligent young people who participated in the program, 11 of whom lived relatives during the work period. Asta Sol Kristjansdottir, Project Manager
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Even though we have yet to celebrate old Hallows Eve,
it never hurts to start planning your Christmas season early.
So, before your holiday weekends get filled up, mark down the ICCT's Seventh Annual Kids'
Christmas Party being held on Sunday, December 3rd.
September 16 and 17 saw the Icelandic-Canadian Art Display, held at Tom Bjarnason's studio in Port Hope.
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