Roots - at Home in Iceland Germanic Language Government: by Kari M
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ISSUE 3 Midnight Sun V O L U M E 2 5 J u l y 2 0 1 2 Quarterly Magazine for the Scandinavian Club of Regina Theme: Life in Iceland Members’ Matters 2, 3, 6 President’s corner 3 Editorial 3 Facts about Theme articles 1, 4, 5, 7 Scandinavian News 4 Iceland Upcoming Events 3, 8 Capital: Reykjavík Official language: Icelandic - a North Roots - at Home in Iceland Germanic Language Government: By Kari M. Frodesen Parliamentary republic It took me nearly sixty years to get there, but I have finally returned home. National Day: 17 June During the past few years I have reclaimed my Icelandic heritage, and it feels (became republic on great! this date in 1944) y mother was Dóra thought she could just barge in after all National Anthem: Haraldsdóttir, daughter of these years? Lofsöngur (Hymn) M Haraldur Björnsson, Iceland’s I need not have worried. They Current President: first professional actor, who married a welcomed me with open Ólafur Ragnar Norwegian naval officer arms, and despite not Grímsson and moved to Norway in having seen them since 1946. Over the years we Legislature: Alþingi we were children, it was only visited Iceland a few really like coming home! Area: 103,001 km2 times, but my mother kept And although I scarcely (39,770 sq mi) in touch with her family all understood a word they Population 1 April her life, by mail and said on this first occasion, 2012 (estimate): telephone and the it was wonderful just to be 320,060 occasional visit by with them – in my relatives on vacation. GDP Per capita: mother’s home town, However, my family USD 43,088 Reykjavík. And I’ve been settings were heavily Norwegian, and back since – after taking a crash growing up my own relationship with course in Icelandic. my Icelandic heritage was virtually non- existent. There is something very calming for a Norwegian to be in Iceland. Coming Therefore I was more than a little from Oslo, a hustling city in very self- excited when I decided to pay them a sufficient and “prosperous” Norway, I visit in 2009. Maybe they would be can feel my pulse settling when I land skeptical to this distant relative who (Continued on page 6) Members’ Matters more on pp. 3 and 6 Annual General Meeting Midsummer Fest Two new members of the SCoR From the Board of Directors for 2012-2013 SCoR Board Interest, Term Deposit, Fund Availability Initiated by a question at the AGM, This matter came up at the Ingrid Van Dusen Greg Swanson May Board meeting, In the treasurer’s report, Mosaic the interest was rolled The most important result of the 2 April into the general AGM was that the members gave the account. John Board of Directors a go-ahead for Edwardson moved that sorting out how the SCoR can we invest in a one year participate in next year’s Mosaic in term redeemable after Regina. 90 days (1.0 %) to keep funds available for Mosiac. This was ”- all the fun of the fair--” seconded by Pearl Baumgartner, and the Syttende Mai 40 adults and 7 children were present, motion was carried. Big turnout for the SCoR celebration of but the local weather forecast probably Norway’s Constitution Day. The scared quite a few people away. The SCoR Historian weather was perfect, and people morning was beautiful, however, sunny enjoyed the company, the food and the and warm. About 3:00 PM there was a The Board has started very black cloud moving over us and working with plans to entertainment: songs by the Kjersten Hordern Singers and a Norwegian folk we started cooking to beat the storm. It establish a position of turned out to be only about a 30 minute Club Historian to record tale told by storyteller Kevin MacKenzie. Young trumpeter Jenny sprinkle, and people found shelter and maintain SCoR under a few large trees. The sprinkle records. Panchuk lead the parade which was made up of children and adults alike, never slowed the children down as and they caught the attention of they spent most of their time in the Midnight Sun neighbours and passers-by in the playground. The sun started to shine Cathedral area. Hurra for Syttende again, the food was great, a good time As from this issue, your was had by all. Newsletter is a Mai! Magazine: We want to see every Midnight Sun - Speaker of the one and Quarterly Magazine for Day: Norwegian even more The Scandinavian Club at the Corn of Regina Honorary Consul Roast in late Heather August! Goransson Larry Bristol 2 SCoR Website http://www.scandinavianclubregina.com/ Are you interested in working with the SCoR preparations for MOSAIC 2013? Contact John Edwardson at 584-2246 or Kim Gillis at 531-9794. President’s Corner Cooking Class! In cooperation with As summer gets into full swing we can look Hillsdale Community forward to our summer activities, but before I get to Association, SCOR that I wanted to thank everyone who came out to will start up the AGM. Having input from club members really helps our planning for the future. I also would like Scandinavian to welcome our two new board members Greg cooking classes this Swanson and Ingrid Van Dusen, it is wonderful to fall! have new people with new ideas on the board. We have been celebrating the annual Midsummer Mondays: Fest, the Corn Roast is coming up in August, and I September 24; encourage everyone to bring a guest or even a October 1, 22, few. This is a great way to show people some of November 5, 26. our family events and in turn possibly increase Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. membership. We have done a great job of Location: Carrefour des bringing new people into the club which is make Mosaic happen for our Plaines, 3850 Hillsdale necessary for the future. We have had many club. If you are interested in Street (Ecole wonderful people give of their time to serve the helping with planning for Monseigneur de Laval) club but we still need people to step up to the plate Mosaic please call John to ensure our club runs smoothly. Edwardson at 584-2246 or Cost of program: $85.00 per person for 5 At the AGM we discussed the possibility of joining myself at 531-9794. We classes (supplies Mosaic in the future, but to do this we need your know joining Mosaic will be a included) help. Mosaic is Regina’s most attended cultural lot of work - but anything event and I think it makes sense that our club is worthwhile is. Registration: there to represent our Scandinavian countries. We Have a great summer. For the best chance to will be sending out a Mosaic newsletter periodically Kim Gillies secure a place in the to let the membership know how we are working to class, register in person on Tuesday 11 Editorial September from 7:00 to 8:00 pm with What’s cooking? Coming up this fall could be able to make more Hillsdale Community we will likely have Scandinavian dishes Scandinavian goods available in Association, cooking on many a Regina stove. Food Regina! McVeetySchool, 38 traditions are among the strongest This new club activity is very welcome Turgeon Cres, in the bearers of culture, and our indeed. Meeting over meals is nice and gym. Scandinavian background caters for social - doing things together creates a Additional Info.: interesting and tasty dishes based on great forum for developing friendship Taught with assistance special (and exotic?) ingredients. One and bringing new generations to our of teachers from the of the more challenging aspects of events. This could also be a good way SCoR, each class will transferring recipes between continents of extending knowledge about highlight dishes from can also be to experiment with Scandinavian culture and increasing one of the five introducing new raw materials into club membership. Scandinavian countries: traditional dishes. Much can already be Denmark, Finland, found in Regina stores, but there is With experience from small scale test Iceland, Norway and always the possibility of bringing new classes, Greg Swanson has made Sweden. merchandise to local stores by arrangements for these regular cooking increasing the demand. Together we classes. Let us fill up the first class this fall! http://www.facebook.com/scandinavianclubregina 3 Growing up in Reykjavík By Guðrún ( Úlú ) Mjöll Guðbergsdóttir I was born at Grundarstígur 10 in Reykjavík, Iceland. It is a house with a soul. The house was bought in 1928 by my maternal grandparents and by my mother´s oldest siblings. It was built in 1915 by the governor of Iceland, which was at that time ruled by Denmark. Remembrance Grove was eleven. At that age I felt very strongly that I had to help The first steps support myself, and I took on towards two morning paper routes creating a which I delivered before grove honouring the school. Delivering the papers was the easy part, collecting people who were another story. We had school murdered in Oslo and in the morning, home Utøya on July 22 last economics, swimming and year, were taken in Mid gym in the afternoon. June in Vatnsmýrin near Our street was full of the Nordic House in wonderful friends. We played Reykjavík. A house with a soul all kinds of games, age did not Shortly after the tragedy, matter. We also lived a few the Nordic Association in My mother was the youngest of 13 minutes from the pond, which was Iceland discussed siblings. My amma also brought up two great for skating in the winter time.