|
|
March 2001 Fálkinn, the ICCT NewsletterANTARCTICASWANSEA TOWN HALL COMMUNITY CENTRE ICCT member Holly Garrett relates her 8-day adventure to Antarctica with STUDENTS ON ICE. Holly says: "Students on Ice is the first and only company providing educational trips for students to Antarctica and the Arctic. I was fortunate to be a teacher-chaperone on the first trip this year. It was an amazing voyage of discovery to Antarctica. Nearly 100 Canadian high school students, teachers and scientists boarded an icebreaker for a learning experience beyond all others. We explored the greatest classroom on earth, became close friends and became ambassadors for the Antarctic all in two short weeks." Please join us on April 8th as Holly relates her fabulous Antarctica experience, including slides. And, if she can obtain a copy, Holly will also show a video. Members $4, Guests $5 ******* Refreshments ICELAND DANCE COMPANYreported by Ellen Gilmore
The Iceland Dance Company performed to a larger than expected audience at the Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront on Tuesday March 13. This high-energy company of young dancers is on its first North American tour. The program served as a "showcase for 10 well trained, flexible and emotive dancers shaped by Artistic Director Katrín Hall into a company rooted in a humanistic approach to movement". Consul General from Iceland to Canada Svavar Gestsson and his wife Guðrún Ágústsdóttir, Hon. Consul Jon Johnson and his wife Pat were in attendance, as well as a good representation of Club members. Following the performance the dancers joined in a reception, the sweets for which were provided by the ICCT. After the completion of their week long appearance in Harbourfront´s "World Moves - Dance 2000-2001" series, they moved on to Ottawa for an engagement at the National Arts Centre on Wednesday, March 21st. (The performance was also reviewed by William Littler, Music and Dance Critic for the Toronto Star. See Wed. March 14 pD3)
ICCT Annual General MeetingTuesday, May 8th Scholarship presentation /Introduction and Election of our new officers and directors. AND, ICCT member (and Viking) Thorsteinn Helf will give a presentation on Norse Gods and Ásatrú religion. Many of us are not knowledgeable in this area, but Thorsteinn is, so we can learn more about this part of our religious heritage. Mark it down. Also, give some thought to becoming a member of our executive – a way to learn more about your heritage and have some fun at the same time – call Ellen at (905) 889-9937 (More in the next Falkinn) More Coming events:The William Morris Society of Canada invites ICCT members and friends to:
ICELANDIC NATIONAL COSTUME WORKSHOPSaturday, May 26th at the Unitarian Hall, 175 St. Clair Ave West – 10am to 5pm - $35.00 including lunch. This is part of the International Visits Program of the Icelandic National League. We are lucky to have this seminar by Fríður Ólafsdóttir, a woman who has spent many years researching the origins of Iceland's distinctive national costumes. Her work has resulted in books and a video. She is currently taking an MA in Multi-Media Textiles at the Art and Design Department of De Monfort University in Leicester, England, before returning to her regular position as Associate Professor at University College of Education in Reykjavik. During her workshop, Fridur will trace the evolution of the national costume over the centuries. She will discuss various costume types – peysuföt, upphlutur, skautbúningur, dagretyja and kyrtill. Bringing with her samples of various costumes and other components such as headgear, belts, vests and embroidery, she will illustrate techniques to recreate the authentic look. Fabric samples, patterns, books and pamphlets will also be part of her presentation. Toronto will be the first stop on the North American tour, which will take Fríður across Canada, extending to the west coast, and then to Seattle and Minneapolis before returning home to Iceland. This six-hour program is bound to be interesting to everyone interested in the national costume, as well as those interested in textiles. There will be the opportunity to chat with Fríður, as well as others in the community who are knowledgeable about the national costume, including those who have made their own. For more information, and to make a booking, contact Gail Einarson McCleery – (416) 762-8627, fax (416) 762-7107; email: icegem@compuserve.com THE MOTET CHOIR OF HALLGRIM'S CHURCH IN REYKJAVIKWe are also very lucky to be included in this tour of the Motet Choir, one of Iceland's best. On Sunday evening, June 10th, the magnificent St James' Cathedral in downtown Toronto will reverberate to the sixty voices, under conductor Horður Áskelsson. The program will consist of modern sacred choral music from the Nordic countries and the Baltic, focussing on music from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Denmark. The Choir has brought out several CDs with Icelandic religious music as well as a separate disc with Duruflé, which has received excellent reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. Founder, conductor and organist Horður Áskelsson studied music in Akureyri and Reykjavik before going to Dusseldorf, Germany, where he graduated as an organist and cantor in 1981, returning to Reykjavik to found the choir in 1982. Those of you who had the undeniable pleasure of hearing other visiting Icelandic choirs (such as the Hamrahlið Choir in 1997) will surely be looking forward to this one -----these Icelanders can sing. Call Gail for information or tickets. (416) 762-8627 "FULL CIRCLE: FIRST CONTACT, VIKINGS AND SKRAELINGS IN NEWFOUNDLAND"A travelling exhibition of the Museum of Newfoundland commemorates the extraordinary events that surrounded the Viking landfall at L'Anse Aux Meadows at the turn of the last millennium. The exhibit profiles L'Anse Aux Meadows as the only Viking settlement in the New World, one which is recognized as both a Canadian National Heritage Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stunning Viking artifacts (made of gold, iron, ivory, bone and wood) from Nordic museums will be exhibited alongside intricately made Aboriginal artifacts made of bone, stone, ivory and wood from the Newfoundland Museum and other Canadian museums. Viking sagas and Aboriginal oral history combined tells the story of humanity. In OTTAWA, at the Museum of Civilization – April 19 until August. Björk and Oskar? - Talented Icelandic Pop diva Björk, who will sing at the Oscar telecast the song "I've Seen it All", from the movie, "Dancing in the Dark" could win an Oscar as one of the writers of this nominated song. Watch her on Oscar night and see if she can win a statue. Another talented Icelander that we remember, Páll Stefánsson has a show at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The museum's curators have decided to extend the exhibition until April 8. Stefansson's production, which was in association with the Viking exhibition that began in October of last year, features some of his most acclaimed portraits of Iceland's landscape. Curators estimate that over half a million people have seen the exhibition, which is showing on the main floor of the Museum. OBITUARYROBERT STANLEY (BOB) GUBBINSAugust 16, 1930 – March 2, 2001 Bob was born in Winnipeg; his mother Agnes was a Helgason from Arnes, Manitoba. During the war, his father Fred found work in a munitions factory in Lindsay and the family moved to Fenelon Falls, Ontario, where Bob and his sister Johanna grew up. After travelling around the country, he met his wife Barbara in Toronto and settled down. He tried many careers, but his longest stint was as line supervisor at Sunbeam, from which he retired in 1985 due to ill health. Bob was a man who loved family, had a sense of humour and whose many interests included HAM radio, building boats (in his basement!), and airplanes. His favourite Icelandic Club activity was visiting the horses at Gimli Farm. His son Rob was called to the Bar at a special ceremony at Roy Thomson Hall on February 23rd, one of Bob's proudest moments. He is survived by his wife Barbara, son Rob, sister Johanna, brother-in-law Larry, niece Katherine, her husband Adam, aunt Bonnie, and many cousins all across the country as well as within our club. Audrey Bernice Brush (Grenke / Einarson) Audrey was born July 12, 1922 at the family farm in Hekkla, Muskoka District, the second daughter of Emil W. Grenke and Jakobina Einarson. Her mother, Jakobina (Bena) was the daughter of Jakob Einarsson, who had come to Hekkla in 1878 (age 13) with his mother María Magnusdóttir and older brother Gisli. In 1888, In 1888 Jakob was married to Jorunn Pálsdóttir. Upon her husband Emil's death, Bena left the farm, moved to Rousseau for a short time, then to Bracebridge where Audrey attended high school, and finally to Milton where she attended business college. At first, Audrey worked for the Public School Inspectors, and then as Deputy-Clerk for the town of Milton for 32 years, until she retired in 1987. That year she visited Iceland with her sisters, Dawn and Eileen. Audrey was a member of St. Paul's United Church in Milton and the John Milton chapter of the IODE, as well being a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society. Audrey loved reading, and had a passion for crosswords and cryptic puzzles. Due to ill health she moved to Appleby Place Retirement Residence in Burlington and passed away January 26, 2001. Audrey leaves her children: Bonnie (Jack) Duimstra and Craig (Kyle) Brush both of Florida, and 5 grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Eileen Martin of Milton, Dawn Crawford of Hamilton, and brother Murray (Donna) of Lion's Head. She was predeceased by her husband David, sister Merle Hogan of Rousseau and brother Vernon Grenke of Sudbury. NEWS AND VIEWSJón Einarsson Gustafsson - We remember him from the Viking Gala last year. He's the movie producer who told us of his fantasy movie Vinarterta Murders. His non-fantasy movie "Kanadiana" was nominated for 5 Blizzard awards, which are film and television awards offered by the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association. Congratulations and Good Luck. Are your roots in Riverton? The old CPR station has recently been returned to its original site, and is to become a Transportation and Heritage Centre, and meeting place. An effort is being made to gather as many memories and mementos as possible. If you have an anecdote of interest, old photos, or related material, send it along to Margaret Wishnowski, Box 17, Riverton MB, R0C 2R0 (204) 378-5560 Website: www.rivertoncanada.com. LETTERS:Dear Garry,
For nearly 60 years, the ICELANDIC CANADIAN Magazine has kept the Icelandic community informed through an English language publication. With subscriptions dwindling, the volunteers who generously give their time to produce this magazine are requesting our assistance in subscribing to the magazine or donating money to ensure its continuance. (Tax receipts will be available for donations.) Donations are acknowledged in the magazine and may be made in the memory of, or to honour a loved one. ALSO The ICELANDIC CANADIAN Magazine is asking young authors to submit their work, prose or poetry, for a chance to be published and win a book prize. The first entry they are looking for is a humorous story. What makes you laugh? The story must contain 150 to 200 words. The categories are (1) 11 and under: (2) 12 and older Entries, subscriptions and/or donations to: ICELANDIC CANADIAN Magazine
(Ed. Note Thanks for the letter Etty. I am a subscriber to the magazine, as were my parents. Thanks to them, I have every magazine, but one, starting with the first issue. These will eventually find a home in a Library. I am able to recommend this volunteer-produced publication, and urge you all to give the ICELANDIC CANADIAN Magazine your support. ICELANDIC LANGUAGE COURSES, BOOKSThe Sigurður Nordal Institute, in cooperation with the University of Iceland, organizes an International Summer Course in modern Icelandic and Icelandic culture in Reykjavik. The course is primarily intended for university students of language and literature. It's too late for 2001, but for information, write to the Institute, or consult its web site. FELLOWSHIP AVAILABLEThe Sigurður Nordal Institute also offers Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Fellowships to writers, translators and scholars from outside Iceland, to enable them to stay in Iceland for a period of at least three months in order to improve their knowledge of Icelandic language and culture. Sigurður Nordal Institute Þinghóltsstræti 29 P.O. Box 1220 121 Reykjavik Iceland
Icelandic books for sale on the net: EDITORIALOur recent Thorrablot was a good one. I enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to meet many old friends, and some folks for the first time. Hey, thanks for coming. I hoped you liked us well enough to come again. The entertainment was a treat, thanks to our cool kids' choir, Bífrost, and our troubadour friend Lindy. The event was well hosted and I hope everybody went home happy. It was nice to see our expatriate friend Chris Morden, a past Vice President of the ICCT who now lives in Reykjavik. (It's no longer temporary, - he was back here to "Sell my house, so I can afford to buy one in Reykjavik") Personally, I was very impressed with Consul General Svavar Gestsson's speech. This man is a gifted speaker, and said some very appropriate things. As I listened to him talk about his fondness for Canada, and the strong ties between our countries, and what an event filled year 2000 had been, it occurred to me that all the effort that was put forward throughout Canada in the millennium year, and the millennium events that touched us from Iceland, were more than a collection of good works, - they were, collectively, the right thing to do. Canada is important to Iceland. Thankfully, our country now realizes this. The opening of embassies in both countries is a milestone event, and we should congratulate Svavar for his involvement in bringing it about.. And thank you and Guðrun for coming to our Thorrablót. And thanks to Merle Oddson, her family and all her helpers, the Viking maidens and food donors. Thanks to Leah Salt for the Silent Auction, and to donors of items for the auction. OTHER NEWS
GIMLI FARM ON LINE – Lynda and Gunnar Helgason report that they have a web site. They are raising Icelandic horses and have a related web page. Check it out www.gimlifarm.com WE GET email The Nonni Museum in Akureyri – The catholic priest Jon Sveinsson (nicknamed Nonni) is a well-known author of children's books. He lived in Akureyri in his childhood. For the past 40 years, Zonta International Club in Akureyri has operated a museum dedicated to Nonni's life, in the house that was his childhood home (Nonnahús) This July, the Club intends to put up a special exhibition about the life of Nonni's mother, Sigriður Jónsdóttir. She was born August 14, 1824 in Reykjahli at Myvatn. She moved to Canada in 1876, where she helped with household work in William Taylor's home. He was a widower, brother of John Taylor, who was of great help to the Njýa Ísland settlement. Two of William's daughters married Icelandic settlers, Halldór Briem and Sigurður Kristofersson. Nonni's brother Friðrik Sveinsson (b. Nov 4, 1864) also moved to Canada. He took the name Fred Swanson. He worked as a painter in Winnipeg. Among other things, he painted theatre scenery. Fred had a daughter named Freyja, then was married to Sigriður, an Icelandic woman, and they had 4 daughters. Nonni also had a sister, Sigriður Guðlaug Sveinsdóttir, born Aug. 18, 1867, who moved to Canada in 1888. If any reader knows details concerning the Canadian experience of Nonni's mother and siblings, - any stories or pictures, the Zonta International Club will be grateful . E-mail to nonnahus@ismennt.is Garry's RamblingsMy father was born in 1899, and grew up at Geysir, where he had to work pretty hard, because he had lost his father early. He, along with his mother and one healthy brother, had to make their way for themselves and another brother, who was not fortunate, health wise. I wrote about the difficulties of that life before, but there are a lot of my Dad's stories bouncing around in my brain. They were trying to manage a quarter of land, and found it very difficult. There was usually the need to find winter work that would raise a few dollars. Dad did a variety of things. As he grew and became manlier in stature and ability, he found himself doing whatever work could be found, even trying to sell insurance. Mostly it was cutting cordwood or working in the sawmills. In the summer the farm was a full time occupation, so the Lake Winnipeg fishery was not a part of his work experience, and also the prospect of being out on the lake in a boat didn't exactly turn him on. But, the winter fishery had always attracted him as a good way to make those extra dollars. He was never hired, being too young and inexperienced. But, when eventually he had acquired his own team of horses, he became very eligible for the winter fishery. The commercial winter fishery on Lake Winnipeg is a fascinating part of Manitoba's history, and the method of net fishing under the ice was very inventive. If you get the opportunity, visit the museum in Gimli sometime and check it out. The hauling of the fish is where my Dad comes into the picture. They hauled a ‘train' off the lake. It was made up of sleds called ‘skiffs' – the first behind the horses carried hay for the horses, straw for their bedding, horse blankets, and had a canvas cover. When they stopped to ‘bed down', the horses were unhitched, wiped down, and tethered to the side of this ‘skiff'. The men fed the horses, spread some straw, and made a cover by draping the canvas over some poles. Dad said that by the time the men were ready to leave the horses for the night, the enclosure was already getting warm. It must be the animal's body heat, and the decaying straw, as well as the horses' bodily functions. Anyway, I believe it because I can remember my mother's family farm in Arborg, where they had a very rudimentary, unheated barn that was always toasty. Behind this, there were a couple of skiffs of fish in wooden boxes. The fish were scaled, cleaned, and filleted as they were taken and put right into the wooden boxes – fresh frozen. At the end was the ‘caboose' a little house in runners with a potbelly stove, bunks, table with chairs, and basic food supplies. The trails on the lake to and from the fishing sites were marked with flags. The men were far enough out not to see land, particularly in the totally white winter. And, when the wind blew, the trail would disappear. Whenever it got dark, or too stormy to see the flags, the guys would stop and bed down. We all know a fellow like Gusti. He was one of those guys that would always be telling you "That's not the right way" or "You know, I would have done that better. Don't you know anything?" He was with my Dad (Leifi) and Bjarni. They made a team. Bjarni and Dad made a plan. The next time they had to stop the train, it would be Dad and Gusti's turn to deal with the horses, while Bjarni went back to the caboose to start the fire. As Dad and Gusti were working away, Bjarni came back to the front, coughing and rubbing his eyes, and said that he can't get the fire started; all he's doing is making smoke. Of course, Gusti started right in with "Stupid fool, you probably didn't open the damper. You guys can't get anything right. I don't know what would happen if I wasn't here. I'll go and start the fire. Out of my way'" So Gusti went back to the caboose, and came out a bit later, followed by a cloud of smoke. He was coughing and coughing, cursing the stove and rubbing his eyes. While Dad was commiserating with Gusti, Bjarni went around, climbed up to the caboose roof, and removed the wet blanket from the chimney, Dad said to Gusti "Stay right here you poor fellow. I sure hope you're going to be all right. Maybe I'll go and have a look" He entered the caboose, started a nice cozy fire in the stove, then told the others that the damper had been shut. Only thing was: it didn't have the desired effect on Gusti. He never did change. |
Svavar Gestsson and Guðrun will be moving to Stockholm, where he will become Ambassador of Iceland to Sweden. The Icelandic Ambassador to Canada will be Hjalmar W. Hannesson
|
|