|
|
November/December 1996 Fálkinn, the ICCT Newsletter
37th Year, Number 2
PIANO RECITAL NÍNA-MARGRÉT GRÍMSDOTTÍR2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 17 Unitarian Hall 175 St. Clair
Ave. W
A graduate of the Reykjavík College of Music, the City University of London and the Mannes College of Music in New York. Holds the LGSM diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra and the Reykjavík Youth Orchestra. Performances in Europe include appearances at Purcell and Waterloo Rooms at Royal Festival Hall, St. Giles Church at Barbican Centre in London and Cité des Arts in Paris. Currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts performance degree at City University of New York. Nína-Margrét will be playing: $15.00 For Tickets: Garry 463-1324 or Fran 221-6453 Join us afterwards for coffee and refreshments. JÓLATRÉSSKEMMUN (THIRD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY)2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 1 Unitarian Hall, 175 St. Clair Ave. West We will be singing carols around the Christmas tree - in both English and Icelandic, with lessons in the hand gestures which go with the Icelandic songs. We hope Steve Koven will be able to come to accompany the fun on the piano. Our Youth Co-ordinator, Jo-Ann Brignoly , with help from Helga Ţorsteinsdóttir and Leah Salt, has lined up a whole bunch of craft activities for all ages, including Icelandic crafts. Our resident storyteller, Carol Karlsdóttir McGirr, will be back with the Jolisveinner stories (these are the mischievous lads who visit for thirteen nights at Christmas) Also on the menu are lots of games for kids of all ages. Adults can do some of their Christmas shopping, with an assortment of crafts, Icelandic and Icelandic-Canadian books, Iceland video, T-shirts, sweat shirts, Canada-Iceland pins, etc. If we can get them here in time, we'll have Christmas treasures directly from Iceland. If you have some Christmas crafts for sale, please bring them - just let us know in advance so we can make room for you. $4.00 Adult Members;
Confirm attendance with Garry 463-1324. WHEN FIRE MEETS THE ICE(by J. Baldur Steen)
Our little country is once again experiencing the immense power of geothermal energy. Iceland is well known for its history of volcanic activity, and this year we are witnessing the eruption of a volcano underneath one of the largest glaciers in the world. The eruption under Vatnajökull began in the early days of October, and caused an area of the glacier to rise 30 metres above its normal level within the first week. After the second and subsequent weeks, the level of the glacier was at an incredible 100 metres higher than normal. One of the main concerns at the time, and still a very realistic possibility, is that of a massive flooding. Should the melted water beneath the glacier escape, the flood potential in the surrounding low lying areas has civic officials, and residents, preparing for the worst. In a desperate attempt to avert disaster, thousands of kilograms of stones and sand have been set at the banks of existing glacial flows. This precaution will hopefully divert most of the water if the necessity should arise. The most recent information available to us indicates that the eruption is nearing an end. As of Monday October 21, the glacier has subsided to only 20 metres above normal. Residents and officials are still wary of the possibility of the melted water escaping, but the threat is less and less each day. This story is of great interest to Icelanders, and we will continue to follow the volcano's progress. YOU SAID IT!In the last issue of Fálkinn, we asked for your input. Here is our first response: I enjoy reading the "Fálkinn", and would take the Icelandic
language course if Toronto was more convenient. The obituaries. I read
about Ruth Einarson-MacMillan. As a child I too lived in Rosseau, attending
the same school where Ruth and I spent many, many times together in each
other's homes. I knew her parents and family members well, but did not
know about her passing until I read it in the Fálkinn. I too am
Icelandic. Edith Smith (Utterson, Ontario)
PROFILE - MARILYN RAGNA (HURST) WHITE, ASSISTANT EDITORSettling into her second year of retirement from a fulfilling career as a secondary music and English teacher, Marilyn joins the Executive as Assistant Editor of Fálkinn, while she continues to give private instruction in music. She has been a member of the ICCT for nearly a decade and is the sister of Bill Hurst, a former ICCT President. Marilyn's strong sense of her Icelandic heritage is a result of a mutually adoring relationship with her Afi, Gisli Johnson ... an editor, publisher, poet and tenor from Akureyri. As a child growing up in Winnipeg, Marilyn recalls a favourite moment with her beloved Afi ... He took me in a taxi to my first opera - Strauss' Der Rosenkavelier. As we drove through the bitter Manitoba evening, the taxi driver turned around and asked my literate and sophisticated Afi, "Are you going to see the wrestling?" Marilyn's mother, Gyđa Johnson of Toronto, also played an active role in nurturing her daughter's appreciation of heritage; cooking the traditional rullupylsa, vinarterta, pönnu-kökur, subscribing to Löberg-Heimskringla, preserving her ancestral Icelandic costume and pendants, and taking her family to the annual Íslendingadagurinn. But despite her mother and Afi's fluency in it, Marilyn only heard Icelandic being spoken on occasions such as Christmas, when, short on privacy, the adults in the home wanted to discuss the children's presents. Her childhood, with its emphasis on culture and literature, played a key role in Marilyn's pursuit of higher education. She received a B.A. from the University of Manitoba and later, as a married woman in Toronto, received a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto. Today, with her academic/music career behind her, Marilyn looks forward to an equally rewarding future as a freelance writer/editor, pianist and proud Amma to three young grandchildren ... with one more on the way. Coming Events:Sunday, November 17 - 2:30 p.m. Unitarian Hall Piano Recital featuring Nína-Margrét Grímsdóttir of Iceland. (See front page)
SCANDINAVIAN CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS:Nov. 9 - Christmas Craft Show/Sale - Agricola Lutheran Church
THANKS TO...Lynda and Gunnar Helgason for their hospitality once again in inviting us to a Wiener Roast at Gimli Farm. Rós Nicolaison for coming up with the winning bid at the re-auction of our tickets to Iceland. Her husband Robert Paul is now taking Icelandic lessons in preparation! Holly Garrett for her lively presentation at our October meeting
on the JASON scientific project for school children. She filled
us in on the plans for this year's project in Iceland. Brandur Olafsson who is teaching Intermediate Icelandic this year, and Guđrun Girgis, who has taken on the difficult task of teaching Beginners Icelandic, and to Sigga Moore, who is helping with both classes, as needed. WELCOME TO ...Ellen and John Gilmore and Jim Gibson, who join us as Directors-at-Large on the Executive of the club. NEW MEMBERS:Leslie and John Tuer and daughter Heather (6 months) Darryl and Frances Hogg and their children Lisa (20), David (19) Andrew (13) and Graeme (10) Pat and Mark Odegard, daughter Alana (13) and son Eric (9). They come to us from Brandon, where Pat was very active in the local club, called (coincidentally) Fálkinn. WELCOME BACK TO:Former President Pat Stephens who returns from Nanaimo to her former job and her former home! SOCIAL/TELEPHONE COMMITTEE FORMEDLeah Salt is taking a new approach to her Social Convenor role. She has established a committee which will be responsible not only for providing comestibles at our meetings, but also for reminding everyone of upcoming events via telephone. If you have a few minutes to spare, Leah would love to hear from you - more people are always needed to help everyone keep in touch. Call her at 905-820-2611, E-mail: giz@interlog.com MILESTONES:Congratulations to Sveina Dahl, on the memorable occasion of her 100th birthday. She marked the event with her immediate family at home in Wiarton, Ontario. Sveina was born on Oct. 18, 1896 in Husavik, Iceland, and has lived in Canada since 1924. We hope to be able to publish more about Sveina's long and interesting life in a future issue. This picture of her was taken when she attended last year's Thorrablót. ICCT member Shaun Steen married Jillian Anderson on September 14th in Markham. Shaun's mother Ella (Erlendsdóttir) is a long-time member of the club, and his brother J. Baldur recently became one of our Assistant Editors. February 29th marked the debut of Sálish Stefansson ... born to Devika and Donald Stefansson; a grandson to Emily Stefansson of Lundar, Manitoba. Alexander Edward Frederick weighed in at 10 lbs. 3 ozs on September 7th. He is a first child for Edward Jonasson and Heather O'Connor. Edward's parents, Faye and Ray Jonasson moved to Sioux Lookout about 15 years ago from Winnipeg. PASSINGS:VIOLET BLANCHE BJARNASON Passed away Sept. 29, 1996. Dear wife of the late Auđun Ólafur. Sadly missed by her daughters Ruth and husband Chris Hall, and Sheila and husband John Rowell. Loving grandmother of Kevin, Jeffrey, Kristina and Andrea. 1997 MEMBERSHIP DUESEnclosed is our annual membership dues form - you'll be pleased to note that once again, there has been no increase in fees! 1997 INL CALENDARS ARE AVAILABLE On the back of the dues form, you'll find a handy order form for calendars, this year featuring the Icelandic costume. VISIT - ICELANDIC HORSES AT GIMLI FARM(by Sean Gibson)
Last Sunday, I spent a day at Gimli Farm. Gimli Farm is a fairly large farm that specializes in Icelandic horses. It was a nice day and there were plenty of things to do. Including horseback riding, hay rides, eating and socializing with very nice people. Although I didn't go horseback riding I did watch as my cousins Tim and Matt rode on the horses. They looked like they were having a very good time, especially Matt. Almost everybody there rode on the horses, and why not? They were nice horses. The hay rides. They were great; we were taken up onto a great hill to see the property and Lake Ontario. It is surprisingly close to the farm. Although it was a warm day, it was as cold as your freezer up there. At least we brought warm clothes. The eating and socializing was my favourite part of the day. After running around all day, I acquired quite the appetite. The food was excellent. And a special thanks to whomever brought the cake with the "little jubbies" in it. All in all I would have to say that this day went very well and was planned out well. (Sean's father Jim is the eldest son of Irene Gibson, whose grandfather Ísleifur Helgason settled in Arnes, Manitoba) 1997 SCHOLARSHIPSOnce again this year, the ICCT is offering a $500 scholarship to a student of Icelandic descent whose family is a member of the club. Application forms are enclosed - deadline is January 15. This year, we have added another dimension to our scholarship program. We are also offering a $500 grant for a child between 5 and 13 to attend a week-long Icelandic Language and Cultural Camp at Gimli, Manitoba early in August. This camp offers the usual summer camp fare of swimming, crafts, music, etc., but its main goal is to teach Icelandic language and heritage. We have decided to provide the opportunity for a child from this area to attend. Details of the application procedure will be supplied in the next Newsletter. ICELANDIC SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM COMING!As you may have seen on billboards around town, the Special Olympics are being held in Toronto and Collingwood February 1 - 8, 1997. Iceland is sending a team of 18 coaches and athletes. Prior to the start of the official events, we will have an opportunity to meet with them and help them get to know Canada a little. AND HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN - we are looking for volunteers to escort them to some of our tourist sites, such as the C.N.Tower, Skydome, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, etc. We would be asking for approximately half a day's time from each volunteer. In addition, there is a chance for someone who speaks Icelandic to accompany the teams during the actual Olympics. Lorelei Mitchell and Lynda Helgason will be co-ordinating our involvement. If you are interested, please call Lynda at 696-8210 or Gail at 762-8627, or in December, call Lorelei at (905) 845-1194 (she'll be away in Madagascar doing research for her "bat" project in November!) We are planning to have a social event as well, where we will have a chance to meet them over a cup of coffee and wish them well. It is tentatively slated for Thursday, January 30th. JUNE IS GOING TO BE A BUSY MONTH!Northern Encounters is the name of a festival of the arts from the eight nations circling the North Pole. During the month of June, 1997, musicians and artists from Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Alaska and Canada come together in Toronto to celebrate the idea of "northerness". Confirmed so far as participants from Iceland are:
Negotiations are under way to confirm participation by Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir (the Icelandic violinist who visited us in 1994). Our club will be working with the organizers, so if you would like to be involved, please call Fran Moscall at 221-6453. A GIMLI TREASURE(by Irene Helgason Innes Gibson)
Having spent my childhood on the prairies I find a comfort and sense of space and freedom when I return. This July, my husband Jim and I drove to Manitoba to visit family and friends and to attend Gimli's 107th annual Íslendingadagurinn. Each day opened with a pancake breakfast. Saturday's events included a sand-castle building contest, beach volleyball, a beer garden, "Harbour Íslendingadunk" and children's entertainment. In the evening there was a Celebrity Concert Program of drama, singing and music by Deborah Patterson, Arne MacPherson, Erika MacPherson and Sylvia Richardson. Sunday featured worship services; a fine arts show; fris-nok tournament; the Valkyries ( four Gimli girls, whose songs were accompanied with flute, piano and guitar); the fashion show of past and present Icelandic costumes; and writer, playwright and poet David Arnason who read tributes to his mother and two grandmothers. Between each reading his wife Carol Dahlstrom sang songs to complement his stories. This was a most delightful two hours. Early evening brought the Folk Festival with the cream of Manitoba's folk community. Closing the day was a Sunday night dance with the Blue Meanies, then the Annual fireworks display. Monday dawned warm and sunny with a colourful parade and floats vying for first prize, including a most spectacular Viking ship. All weekend the Viking Age Club of Minneapolis featured a re-created Viking encampment in the park - a family living in tents sparked our interest in the early Viking days with demonstrations of weaving, leather work and woodcraft, as well as explanations of their customs and the meaning of the clothes and jewellery they wore. Prior to the traditional program on the main stage, people gathered for lunch and then the park rang out with cheers and shouts of encouragement to children as they competed in the races. I'm pleased to say the Helgason clan took many firsts. At 2:00 pm Valgerdur Asta Mae (Dee Dee) Westdal, this year's Fjallkona, gave her address in which she spoke of Icelandic characteristics: strength of character, pride in strong work ethics, respect for the individual and fierce independence. She said our children are the link in retaining our heritage - the Nordic culture. The maids of honour were sisters Kimberly and Kristin Westdal, grandnieces to Fjallkonen Westdal. The afternoon ended with a community singsong led by Oli Narfason and Dennis Carlson. After leaving the celebrations in the park, we saw the home of the Huldufolk Snorri and Snaebjörn in the newly refurbished Gimli public school. There we also enjoyed the J.S.Kjarval art exhibition. We shall have to return another year as we did not get to all the events, but we came away pleased to have participated in the Celebration, which we consider to be a true Gimli treasure. WINNER - ÍSLENDINGADAGURINN POETRY CONTESTGimli Family Reunion(by Margrét Foster)
From this beach, this bench, Lake Winnipeg is an ocean, its clean forever surface one with the sky. Voices I know spilled Icelandic songs onto the night. I sit alone and taste those familiar foreign words, sweet on my tongue. That I was adopted isn't talked about much. I am dark, I am Irish, I am fire. I am not Icelandic. Amma always says it's the Icelandic way to simply accept things as they are. Later, when everyone starts comparing Lee's cheekbones to Margaret's face to Warren's build to Harold's demeanour to Brynja's eyes to Ben Thor's smile to Amma's laugh, I will ache, but I will love this family I will think about what I might never know, and hope that we are only a family or two apart. (Margrét lives in North Vancouver; daughter of Carol Bjarnason and Bill Foster; grand-daughter of Gusta and Harold Bjarnason) NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK IS A BEST-SELLERW.D. (Bill) Valgardson tells us that his new book Sarah and the People of Sand River came first on the children's best-seller list in October, even ahead of Goosebumps! The book tells the story of an Icelandic girl who lives on the shores of Lake Winnipeg with her father, until she is sent to the city to be educated and learn English. Unhappy, she runs away and ends up cold, hungry and lost in a blizzard. She is saved by a native man and woman, the People of Sand River. The book was inspired by a story Valgardson's own great-grandmother told him. Alone and pregnant one winter while the men were fishing, she met a native man who helped her chop wood. She cooked for him in return for his kindness. "That said so much to me about the native people I grew up with," Bill said. It is illustrated by Ian Wallace with pencil and watercolour sketches, who says "Sarah is one of those stories that works on so many different levels." (with excerpts from Lögberg-Heimskringla) BOOK IS "INFUSED WITH THE ICELANDIC SPIRIT"Another new book worth noting - this time for adults - is The Heart Can be Filled Anywhere on Earth by Bill Holm. Lögberg-Heimskringla calls it "a rich tapestry of personal reflection, family history and complex social psychology of Minneota, Minnesota." "No work of art, not even a deeply private lyric poem, can lay any claim to real existence until a human apprehends it", Bill Holm writes in his newest collection of essays. Ed. Note: Both books are available in our shop; we hope to have W.D. Valgardson read from his book next June. |
|
|