The Icelandic Canadian Club of British Columbia
N E W S L E T T E R
April 2021 LIII:iv
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ICELANDIC CANADIAN CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA APRIL 7, 2021, 7 pm, Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas St, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9
The AGM is on Zoom Any active member who wants to attend can send an email to [email protected] to register. Before the AGM, each registrant will receive an email with a link to the Zoom meeting and a link to access the reports. In the meantime, we will have checked their eligibility.
We are looking for additions to our Board of Directors and You would be most welcome.
Please contact Jana Helgason, President, for information, [email protected].
According to
The Icelandic Meteorological Office
the eruption started at 8:45 pm, local time,
Friday, March 19, 2021
In Fagradalsfjall in Geldingadalur
(see pages 5 & 6) Photo: Grapevine.is
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SCANDINAVIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE SOCIETY will be held on ZOOM on Thursday, APRIL 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Agenda for the Annual General Meeting is posted at the Scandinavian Centre and on the Scandinavian Community Centre site.
If you would like to attend the meeting via ZOOM, please email [email protected]
and include the name of the member organization to which you belong.
1
The original Heimskringla was founded in Winnipeg in 1886, and Lögberg in 1888. They eventually joined together as Lögberg- Heimskringla. This means an Icelandic newspaper has been published, without interruption, for 135 years. The paper is interesting, 16 pages every two weeks, for $60 a year, online $45. Would you like to subscribe? You will enjoy it and be supporting Icelandic cultural activity in Canada, and keeping the paper financially viable for years to come. email: L-H-inc.ca, phone: 1-866-564-2374
As you can see by the photo, you are not going to miss the building when you drive by.
The club has been asked if we would assist. I’m searching for the biological daughter of my deceased brother, Mark Catto. In late 1992, or 1993 my brother and a woman by the name of Brenda (we do not know her family name), had a daughter they gave up for adoption. Mark and Brenda were living in the Lower Mainland at the time. In 2013 the daughter reached out to both biological parents, and my brother was overjoyed about this! He and his daughter started corresponding and were planning to visit each other at some point in 2014. Tragically, my brother passed away unexpectedly in the spring of 2014. He had planned on giving us (his family) more information about his daughter when he saw us in person. He lived in Ontario, the rest of the family in Quebec. Sadly, we never had the chance to meet and discuss. Our family would love to connect with this child (now young adult) and I know my brother would want this. We would love to share with her how incredibly happy he was that they had reconnected and how we were all looking forward to meeting her one day. We have 2 pieces of information to work with. My brother did mention that his daughter was studying music in Vancouver. We believe at a university, UBC or maybe SFU? And, this is where the Vancouver Scandinavian Community comes into play, my younger brother seems to think that he had heard that the adoptive parents, (who were apparently wonderful parents!) were possibly of Scandinavian descent. If you have any information that could help in any way, I would very much appreciate it. I can be reached via email at [email protected]
Höfn Icelandic Harbour, 2020 Harrison Drive, Vancouver, BC
Assisted Living & Affordable Housing; an open, bright, caring, friendly environment We have been providing care for Seniors since 1947.
Höfn is still Covid-19 free. All residents and staff received their first Covid vaccine shots on January 14, 2021; and second shot on February 25, 2021.
On April 1st, residents will once again take their meals in the dining room in two shifts so that distancing can occur.
We would as always, like to thank our excellent director, Albert Teng, and staff.
Find us at: [email protected] or 604-321-3812
2 April 2021 SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS CLUB OF BC Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby April 14, 2021, Wednesday. 7 pm. On Zoom
Guest speaker: Helle Juuel Johansen, Director of Care New Vista Care Home in Burnaby
Helle Juuel Johansen came to Canada from Denmark in 2002 with her husband and children planning to stay for 2 years. Thankfully they fell in love with Vancouver and decided to stay. In January 2020, she became the new Director of Care at the New Vista Care Home in Burnaby and had no idea what was in store for her. April saw an outbreak of COVID-19 cases and one of her residents died. She had to deal with another outbreak four months later and then in October she oversaw the relocation of 230 residents to a new building. We are fortunate to have her join us to share some of her experiences, answer your questions and discuss with us quality of care issues in our long-term care home institutions. Please join us on Zoom at 7:00 pm on April 14th to hear from Helle and her experiences dealing with the Covid -19 pandemic in a local care home. We have also invited representatives of the Scandinavian Centre and the Houses to give us an idea of what they went through and provide a brief update. Come to support the Scandinavian Business Club and all of the volunteers at the Centre. Attendance by advanced registration only. This is a free event, there is no cost to register. Register online at : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdOmprTwvGdYK9uh9LpX6bnMcMfvAHNZ7
Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC 604-294-2777, Contact: [email protected] Looking for a space for your Wedding, Office Party, Workshop or Special Event? Check out our Hall and Fireside Lounge both supported by an industrial kitchen. During Covid-19, phone the office, 604-294-2777.
Check ‘Events Calendar’ for full details of all programs: https://scancentre.org/events-calendar/
NORDIC BAKING—Contact for All baking classes is Sandra: [email protected]
Brittatårta—Monday April 12, 2021, 7pm. Zoom Cost: Price $20/student. 2 hour class and recipe.
Kavring - Dark rye bread with cumin, Monday Apr 19, 2021, 7pm, Zoom. Cost: Price $20/student, 2hour class and recipe.
Cardamom Bread—Pulla, Monday April 26, 2021, 7pm, Zoom Soft, sweet bread with cardamom and a filling of your choice (vanilla, cinnamon or almond) Cost: Price $20/student, 2 hour class and recipe.
“The Far Traveler” –Voyages of a Viking Woman by Nancy Marie Brown, released in 2007, but worthwhile reading if you haven’t done so. We know the story of Guðriður but this adds to her adventures in North America, Norway and Rome.
Call for PHOTO SUBMISSIONS for the 2022 Icelandic National League Calendar The Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) 2021 calendar, Majestic Iceland, was a resounding success which sold out after a first and second printing!
The INLNA is pleased to announce that the theme for the 2022 fundraising calendar is Majestic Reykjavík. For the 2022 calendar we are looking for photos that represent the beauty and diversity of Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík. If you would like the opportunity to have one of your photos in the 2022 calendar, please submit up to two (2) of your favourite photos that feature Reykjavík to: [email protected] by April 30, 2021. If your photo is selected, your name will appear in the 2022 calendar along with your photo. For detailed information, please check the site: [email protected]
3 April 2021 From the BC bestseller, Gone Viking: A Travel Saga, by Bill Arnott
Iceland Following a fugue-like flight we begin our descent, sky now intensely bright. Sun shines on rigid sheets of blue-white cloud like starched glacier. Below, gleaming Arctic water stretches forever, beckoning possibility. My water bottle collapses, vacuuming into a knot with a scrunch, the noise somehow cautionary. Irish monks, it’s believed, came here first— Saint Brendan in his frozen leather boat. A party of Norse came later, for a time. Then a few Swedes, also for little more than a brief landing. centre. Another compact settlement. A skein of ducks But eventually Floki Vilgerdarson arrived—Raven- in flight, an absence of trees, small tidal inlets and Floki. He came from Norway, determined to see what rocky pools. Sun breaks through, up for the season, this remote Arctic place had to offer, if anything, and intensifying landscape colours. Aptly enough we’re what it was that sent earlier would-be settlers greeted by a smoky bay—the meaning of Reykjavik—a scurrying home. By definition, Raven-Floki founded cloud-like mist, maybe vog, reminiscent of haar. Iceland. Heaving through fog and ice on the North Sea There’s a monstrous raven sitting on a light standard and Atlantic, he released three reconnaissance and we pass a road sign stating, “Town of Vikings.” I ravens—the explorer’s explorers, which repeatedly glance at my calendar. Yesterday was Wednesday— returned to the ship. Until one did not—the bird that Odin or Woden’s Day. Today is Thor’s Day. Tomorrow Floki followed, the raven leading him here. belongs to Frey—Odin’s wife. And we’re here until the Land pops into focus through plane windows. Tawny day of Odin’s son, Tiw. Tuesday, Wednesday, ground rises into striated bands of blue, capped in Thursday, Friday—remnants of Viking time. snow and ice surrounded by meandering fjords. Making our way to our accommodation takes us past Patches of scrubby green dot volcanic brown scree. Grófin, where Reykjavik’s first settlers beached their There’s a scatter of white dwellings plunked onto boats, and then Adalstraeti, Reykjavik’s first road, a jagged shores, gnarly juts of land and wide flat tundra. path those same Vikings used to access moorage a A customs officer waives us through but we stop and thousand years ago. Our apartment-hotel has an ask to have passports stamped. She digs around for industrial feel—concrete and glass, spartan but an official stamp, ker-chunks our paperwork and welcoming. After venturing out for overpriced welcomes us with a smile. I suspect our excitement groceries, we settle back into our unit, getting local shows. An idling bus will take us from Keflavik to with a hearty plokkfiskur, traditional crustless fish pie. Reykjavik. Everyone’s bundled up, rucksacks and hair in great quantities—dreadlocks and beards, hostel- Bill Arnott is the bestselling author of WIBA and ABF bound travellers. Bulky clothing and packs shrink the international book awards finalist, Gone Viking: A interior of the bus. Some idiot’s wearing cargo shorts Travel Saga. He’s been awarded for prose, poetry, in the frigid cold. There’s always one. songwriting, and for his eight year Gone Viking trek We hum along straight highway of crushed salt-and- has been granted a Fellowship at London’s Royal pepper stone stacked thick on rocky tundra—road Geographical Society. When not trekking the globe built for freezing. Huge plateaus abut blue steppes with a small pack, weatherproof journal and laughably with snowy claw-marks down steep embankments— outdated camera phone, Bill can be found on Canada’s remnants of avalanche, and pyramid shapes with west coast, making friends and misbehaving. military flattops—mountains with buzz-cuts. Now a Find Bill’s books and Gone Viking readings at wide bay opens to the north with a small ship at its https://billarnottaps.wordpress.com/
April 2021 4 Before it happened: The Guardian,, March 3, 2021 boats in the North Atlantic, if an eruption shuts roads to ‘I’m not scared, just tired': Icelanders lose sleep over the remote town.“I trust the authorities to keep us earthquake tremors informed and evacuate us,” Gudmundsdottir says. “I’m not scared, just tired.” Scientists call it an unprecedented seismic event – but residents dread an imminent volcanic eruption. Icelanders are yearning for some undisturbed shut- eye after tremors from tens of thousands of earthquakes have rattled their sleep for weeks in what scientists call an unprecedented seismic event, which might well end in a spectacular volcanic eruption. “At the moment we’re feeling it constantly. It’s like you’re walking over a fragile suspension bridge,” said Rannveig Gudmundsdottir, a lifelong resident in the town of Grindavik. Grindavik lies in the southern part of the Reykjanes peninsula, a volcanic and seismic hotspot, where more than 40,000 earthquakes have occurred since 24 February – exceeding the total number of According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), earthquakes registered there last year. Located the eruption started at 8:45 pm, local time, Friday, between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic March 19, 2021 in Fagradalsfjall in Geldingadalur. The plates, Iceland frequently experiences earthquakes as eruption was first observed on a web camera the plates slowly drift in opposite directions at a pace of positioned close by. IMO also confirmed the eruption about 2cm each year. on thermal satellite imagery. The source of the past weeks’ earthquakes is a large March 22, 2021 (from Volcano Discovery) body of molten rock, known as magma, moving roughly Fagradalsfjall, a mountain on the Reykjanes Peninsula 1km (0.6 miles) beneath the peninsula, as it tries to in southwest Iceland, erupted on Saturday for the first push its way to the surface. “We’ve never seen so much time in 6,000 years seismic activity,” says Sara Barsotti, volcanic hazards Authorities stress the eruption is considered small and, coordinator at the Icelandic Meteorological Office as it’s far from populated areas and important (IMO). Some of those quakes clocked in at magnitudes infrastructure, it’s not considered a concern. The event as high as 5.7. has been classified by authorities as a fissure eruption, “Everyone here is so tired,” says Gudmundsdottir, a meaning large explosions are not expected. Large-scale schoolteacher. “When I go to bed at night, all I think ash pollution and projection is also not typically about is: am I going to get any sleep tonight?” Many in associated with this kind of eruption. On Saturday, the Grindavik have visited relatives, spent time in summer Government of Iceland closed roads in the area and told houses, or even rented a hotel room in Reykjavik, the people to stay away from places near the eruption capital, just to get a break and a good night’s sleep. including places like valleys where toxic gases can Authorities in Iceland warned of an imminent accumulate. volcanic eruption on the peninsula in early March, but As Iceland's eruption goes on, lava might fill the valley said they did not expect it to disturb international air and overflow to the next one—Fri March 26 (Monitor) traffic or damage critical infrastructure nearby. Unlike The eruption is now almost a week old and shows little the eruption in 2010 of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, signs of stopping anytime soon. Activity is now which halted approximately 900,000 flights and forced concentrated at two adjacent vents of a growing cone in hundreds of Icelanders from their homes, the eruption the central part of the original eruptive fissure. They are on the peninsula is not expected to spew much ash or filled with spectacularly boiling (degassing) lava that smoke into the atmosphere. Experts are expecting lava flows away to form thin flows that overlap on a growing to erupt from fissures in the ground, possibly resulting lava field, that slowly but surely is filling the in spectacular lava fountains, which could extend 20 to Geldingadalur valley. Scientists have modeled this: if the 100 metres in the air. current eruption rate of 5.8 cubic meters continues at Last year authorities put an emergency plan in place (Continued on page 6) for Grindavik. One option includes putting locals on
5 April 2021 (Continued from page 5) such rate for a total of 12 days (another 5-6 days from are more similar to those emitted from the earth’s now), it will have filled the valley and start overflowing mantle than what is commonly seen, explains Sæmundur into the neighboring valley to the SW. Speculations Ari Halldórsson, research scholar at the University of circulate already that if this eruption continues for a Iceland Institute of Earth Sciences. very long time (years), we might see the formation of a He explains that the magma from Fagradalsfjall comes new shield volcano. It is impossible to predict this, directly from the earth’s mantle, without pausing in the especially such a short time after the start, but earth’s crust. Therefore, its composition is different from intriguing nevertheless. In any case, we would be now that from typical fissure eruptions on the Reykjanes watching the birth phase of a potential shield volcano peninsula – it is thinner and richer in CO2. right now! It is too early, though, to assert that the current eruption Though considered small, the eruption created a fissure is indeed that of a shield volcano. about 1,640 feet long, and spewed more than 10 million square feet of lava, sometimes in fountains reaching heights of more than 300 feet. Long-Lasting Shield Volcano Eruption? Magma from Mantle—Tuesday, March 23, 2021 There are indications that the eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, Southwest Iceland, which began on Friday, last week, is a shield volcano eruption – a type of eruption that hardly has occurred since the end of the Ice Age, mbl.is reports. An examination of its volcanic products suggests that the magma flows from a depth of 17-20 km (10-12 mi), and is of a more primitive sort that we’ve seen before. Lava flow from shield volcanoes is generally slow, but it can continue for a long time - possibly years. Such a scenario cannot be ruled out with regard to the current eruption in Geldingadalur, Fagradalsfjall mountain, Bus Trips To The Eruption Site Have Begun – March 24 Reykjavik Excursions have started offering bus trips for people to go visit the volcano at Geldingadalur. This is being done in response to the large amount of cars that are parking at Suðurstrandarvegur as it is getting increasingly busy there. There are also talks of banning parking on the road near the start of the route to the site as there has been lots of congestion in the area. Part of Crater Collapses – Sunday, March 28, 2021 The hottest place in Iceland these days and the most photographed one is no doubt the eruption site in Geldingadalur valley, by Fagradalsfjall mountain, on the Reykjanes peninsula. Many a drone has been flown over the site, among them that of Viktor Aleksander Bogdanski, who caught a spectacular video there this week. The brand-new drone did, however, not escape unscathed, for part of it melted slightly. Luckily, the ‘injury’ does not keep it from continuing to fly. states geologist Magnús Á. Sigurgeirsson. The magma “There were so many people,” he tells mbl.is. “The flows at a volume of 5-10 m3/second. atmosphere resembled that at Þjóðhátíð [the outdoor Among well-known shield volcanoes on the Reykjanes festival in Vestmannaeyjar islands over Merchants’ peninsula is Þráinsskjöldur, formed about 14,100 years Weekend in August] … There were many drones flying, ago. Another shield volcano, better known, is helicopters and airplanes. You could feel the rumbling of Skjaldbreiður, northeast of Þingvellir National Park, the earth, which was amazing.” Viktor himself went no created 9,000 years ago. closer than five meters. “I couldn’t go any closer; it was By describing the composition of the magma as that hot.” He and his fellow travelers were well equipped primitive, what geologists mean is that its compounds for the trip and brought gas masks along. 6 April 2021
Iceland Online– March 2021 Compiled by Iceland Review, Iceland Monitor & Reykjavik Grapevine Editorial Staffs
Iceland Tightens Coronavirus Spain’s Weird International writer on Icelandic TV programs and Restrictions— March 25, 2021 Animation Festival, where it won has performed in the UK and Australia. After successfully containing the first Best European Short Film, and the local wave of COVID-19 infections last Uppsala Short Film Festival, where it Netflix Gives First Glimpses of spring, Iceland reported low case won the Audience Award. Upcoming Icelandic Series Katla numbers throughout the summer. The film’s script only contains a Netflix has released the first Another, larger wave occurred in the single word: já, or “yes.” Gísli photographs from the upcoming fall but has since been contained. After has stated that his inspiration for the series Katla, its first-ever original series a few weeks of less than one new film was how intonation and from Iceland. Created and directed by domestic case daily, Iceland is now expression affect the meaning of the award-winning Baltasar Kormákur experiencing an uptick in cases linked words. “I was thinking about (Trapped, Everest), the eight-part to the British variant of the strain. languages and how we have drama takes place in Vík, South Authorities have reacted by tightening dictionaries where words are Iceland, following a violent eruption of restrictions considerably, thus hoping explained but we also have another the volcano Katla. to avoid extensive community-spread layer of language where you have “One year after the outbreak of a infections. intonation and expression and you violent eruption of the subglacial Restrictions were tightened can say the same word but if you volcano Katla, the peace and considerably on March 25. A 10-person change the intonation it can have the tranquility in the small town of Vík has gathering limit is in effect and a two- been dramatically disturbed with the metre distancing rule is in effect in all eruption still active,” a Netflix plot regions of the country for those who summary of the series reads. “The ice do not have a close relationship. Mask near the volcano has been melting, the use is mandatory in shops and on area has been evacuated and only a public transportation. Gyms, few remaining people manage to swimming pools, bars, and clubs are provide the necessary community closed and all schools save for service in the village, which is now only kindergartens were closed early for accessible by crossing the Markarfljót the Easter holidays. These regulations river. The grand area has turned out to will remain in effect until April 9. The be somewhat apocalyptic and Vík is first doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrived declared a danger zone. Mysterious in Iceland on December 28 and elements, that have been deeply vaccination began on December 29. frozen into the glacier from prehistoric opposite meaning. I found that really times, start to emerge from the Icelandic Short Film Nominated for fascinating.” The 2021 Academy melting ice with consequences no one Oscar Awards will be presented on April 26, could ever have foreseen.” Icelandic animated short film Yes 2021. Though the premise of Katla is People (Já-fólkið), directed by Gísli fictional, a Katla eruption in the year Darri Halldórsson, has been nominated Icelandic Comedian Ari Eldjárn 822 AD was likely responsible for for a 2021 Oscar award for Best Releases Netflix Special widespread famine, plague, and Animated Short Film. The film follows Pardon My Icelandic is the title of freezing temperatures across Europe. the lives of several different individuals comedian Ari Eldjárn’s Netflix special, An eruption at nearby Laki in who, according to the trailer which premiered December 2, 2020. 1783 affected the climate across the description, face “the everyday battle Ari referred to the special as a dream northern hemisphere for a year, and is – such as work, school and come true. In the program, Ari pokes now believed to have been a catalyst dishwashing. As the day progresses, fun at Iceland and its claims of for the French revolution. their relationships are tested and greatness “per capita,” as well as Cautiously Optimistic About The ultimately their capacity to making light of the differences Summer. The head of the Icelandic cope.” RÚV reported first. Yes People between Icelanders and their Nordic Tourist Board has sounded a note of has already been awarded at film neighbours. Comedian Ari Eldjárn, cautious optimism regarding foreign festivals across Europe, including 39, has been performing standup for some 11 years. He has worked as a tourism in Iceland this summer. April 2021 7 ‘Winter Came Early’
‘Winter Came Early’ 24 x 30 acrylic on canvas The 8-page newsletter is published at the beginning of Patricia (Guttormson) Peacock, SFCA. each month, ten months of the year. A newsletter is not Pat grew up in Gimli, Manitoba, and now lives in White printed in July or August. Material is gratefully received by Rock, BC. Having been interested in art from early the 20th of each month. childhood, in 1967 when she moved to the Vancouver
area she decided to attend Kwantlen College and study Editor & Publisher: Fine Arts. She has held multiple exhibitions and received Margrét Bjarnason Amirault, Tel: 604-688-9082 many awards. Of note: Pat's art has been quite Distribution: Heather Johnson, Nina Jobin influenced by her strong interest in her Icelandic Membership: Norman Eyford, 778-846-1894 heritage.
ICCBC Mail: 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC
V5B 4P9 Oakridge Lutheran Church th Printer: Prism Printing, 203-6 Street, New Westminster is engaging in a major edevelopment The new worship space is: Website of the Icelandic Canadian Club of BC: Redeemer Lutheran Church, www.icelandicclubbc.ca 1499 Laurier Ave., Vancouver
Facebook: @icelandicclubbc
Icelandic National League Website: www.inlofna.org Library & Genealogy
Icelandic Radio (6 stations): www.xnet.is Books written by Icelanders in English or translation
Morgunblaðið: http://mbl.is are available in the Scandinavian library upstairs.
Ströndin Internet Radio: www.inlofna.org/SIR Books in Icelandic are located in the Iceland Room. Information regarding the Genealogy Centre can be Honorary Consul General of Iceland for British Columbia, obtained from Gerri McDonald, email: Glenn Sigurdson, www.glennsigurdson.com [email protected]
April 2021 8