The Icelandic Canadian Club of British Columbia N E W S L E T T E R April 2019 LI:iv Icelandic Canadian Club of British Columbia Annual General Meeting Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC Wednesday, April 3, 2019, 7 pm There are vacancies on the Board of Directors to be filled at our AGM. Consider joining the Board. Our meetings are once a month, 1½-2 hours max. and they are social, yet efficient. We would like you to join our cultural community. For information, contact Norman Eyford, President, [email protected], 778-846-1894. Or, simply turn up ! There is always coffee and dessert after the meeting. Scandinavian Community Centre Society Annual General Meeting Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC Thursday, April 18, 2019, 7 pm The AGM will elect a Board of Directors that governs the Scandinavian Centre and represents all five Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. For information, contact Ron Stubbings, Board of Director’s President, Scandinavian Centre, 604-294-2777 Icelandic National League Convention May 16-19, 2019 Fairmont Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba https://icfron.ca/convention/ As you can see to your right, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, and First Lady Eliza Reid, will be attending the Convention. Entertainment for the weekend includes B.C. based Lisa Maxx, Thursday night, at the Meet and Greet, Solskrikjan Choir with Director and Accompanist Kerrine Wilson, Friday at the Awards Ceremony and Sol James Saturday night at the Gala Dinner. There will be time set aside to share your story with an artifact from your family history and the Yule Lads will (Continued on page 2) 1 (Continued from page 1 - Icelandic National league Convention)) be making an appearance at lunch on Saturday. We have an exciting program shaping up for the convention. Below is a list of the interesting people and organizations you will hear from when you attend the 100th INLNA convention. · Cathy Josephson – East Iceland Emigration Centre · Sunna Furstenau – Icelandic Roots · Katie Parsons – Fragile Heritage Manuscript Project · Lilja Arnadottir – Head of Artifact Collection, National Museum of Iceland · Erika Thorsteinson – Growing Up Icelandic · Dr. Ryan Eyford – New Iceland Heritage Museum · Gudrun Nordal – The Arni Magnusson Institute · Asdis Joelsdottir – Origins, History and Design of the Icelandic Lopi Sweater · Icelandic Connection · The Icelandic Festival · Icelandic Language Camp · Icelandic Canadian Fron Youth Group · Snorri/Snorri Plus/Snorri West Icelandic Roots Genealogy Session, Sunday, May 19, 1:30-5 pm As we all know, Icelanders are great travellers. It is not unusual to run into Icelanders in London, Copenhagen or other European cities but an unexpected meeting this month was on a small group day tour in northwest Argentina. The last passenger to board the mini bus was Kristín. She sat down beside me and when she replied to the tour guide she is from Iceland, our little group of four ICCBC members were surprised. Kristín was even more surprised to hear Nina and I speak to her in Icelandic! We all laughed saying Icelanders are everywhere! Of course, we had to figure out how we are related. Lovely coincidence that helped make a 14 hour tour much more On the way to Humahuaca interesting. By Gerri McDonald Back: Kristin, Gerri, Nina Jobin, Front: Colin & Karen McDonald Hőfn Icelandic Harbour, 2020 Harrison Drive, Vancouver, BC Assisted Living & Affordable Housing An open and bright, caring, friendly environment We have been providing care for Seniors since 1947. Find us at: [email protected] or Front entrance and drop-off. The van is to transport residents to shopping 604-321-3812 and other entertainment. 2 April 2019 Icelandic Princesses at Þorrablót L: Samantha Stanley—Princess 2019, and Nordic Spirit 2019 ‘ How We Got Here’ R: Past Princess, 2018—Rosa Bjarnason Apr 13/14 (Sat/Sun) 11 am-6pm On Exhibit: Historic images, travel stories and videos of our Immigrant Travel Stories. Please come and share your stories. 11:30 Opening reception, music by Silver Winds 1:00 Scott Larsen: “The Titanic” 1:30 Our Travel Tales 3:30 Music by Sammenspil 4:00 James A.V. Bligh, Architect: “Scandinavian Design: Lessons for the Pacific Northwest from Copenhagen to Kirkenes” Join James Bligh for rapid-fire review of Scandinavian urbanism, architecture and foods that would be right at home in the Pacific Northwest. Contact: Judith Anderson [email protected] Nordic Spirit 2019 ‘How We Got Here’ April 14 (Sun) 11am to 4pm Our Immigrant Travel Stories Please come and share your stories On Exhibit: Historic images, travel stories and videos. Info: Carolyn Thauberger at [email protected] or 778 228-233 https://scancentre.org/nordic-spirit-2019-how-we-got-here/ With the INL program, Snorri West, young Icelanders will be visiting Vancouver this June As mentioned in the last newsletter, this summer Vancouver will host a group of young Icelanders participating in the Snorri West program. Snorri West is a program that strengthens the bonds between the people of Iceland and the people of Icelandic descent in North America. Four have been chosen: Natalía Lind Jóhannsdóttir, Garðabær; Karítas Hrundar Pálsdóttir, 105 Reykjavík; Guðbjörg Halldórsdóttir; Stykkishólmur; Oddrún Assa Jóhannsdóttir; 110 Reykjavík. They are here to visit their ancestors’ adopted countries, and experience our cultures, languages, stories, and nature, as well as explore our communities. Where possible, they will also meet relatives and experience how Western Icelanders are keeping their Icelandic heritage alive in their communities. Will you help to welcome them by volunteering to : Take the Snorri West group for a day or half-day of activities (There is a schedule and we will supply any tickets required) Host a dinner for the Snorri West group Donations of: One or more tickets to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Fly Over Canada, Grouse Mountain, Sea to Sky Gondola, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Museum All Icelanders love coffee – we’ll need Starbucks and Tim Hortons gift cards Sponsors for: Pizza or sushi or ice cream One of the activities mentioned above Bicycle rentals at Stanley Park Contact: Blair Lockhart, Vancouver Coordinator, [email protected] or 778.628.5872. April 2019 3 Our thanks to the following who helped at the 2019 Þorrablót Norman Eyford Asi & Jacquie Bjornson Jana & Oðinn Helgason Michelle, Russell & Edda& Kent Langworth Loa & Vanya Maynard Margaret Bj Amirault Tom Penway Lee Lipton, photographer Kristine Sigurdson Anna Bjarnason Hilda Andrew Paul Bjarnason Annika Andrew Gunnar Hansson Erika Sigurdson Heather Johnson Jason Scultety Miriam Esmail & daughters Lois Turner Joan Christensen Tammy & Krystal Eyford And, our thanks to the businesses who donated: Dawn Romerell- quilt maker Pacific Breeeze Winery LynnValley Lashes - Lovely Lashes HR Macmillan Space Center Sonja, one of the door prize winners, Blair & Tony with guest speaker, Glenn Sigurdson with President Norman Eyford Heather, Maureen & Mary BOOKS—Free or by Donation Some of the Silent Auction Displays 4 April 2019 Part of the crowd at Þorrablót Hangikjőt – so good Dessert, and more Gunnar, Edda & pick-up choir from attendees, singing old Icelandic folk and party songs A piece of art at the auction: carved out of wood, with working timepiece, by Asi Björnson Margrét & Oðinn (our M/C) 5 April 2019 Ieda Jónasdóttir Herman, 93 year old in the Sun Run by Heidi Herman-Kerr Ninety-three year old Iceland native Ieda Jónasdóttir Herman, affectionately known to her family as "Viking Amma", is joining the Scandinavian Centre Team for the Vancouver Sun Run, April 14th. Her son, Del Herman, from Surrey and her grandson, Eric Herman, from Burnaby, are joining her on the Scan Centre Team as well. The Scandinavian Centre team has participated in the Sun Run for several years. Their captain is Karina Linder. This event is nothing new for the adventuring was born in Iceland in 1925. In 1945, she met and nonagenarian. She encourages everyone to ‘just keep married a US serviceman and they settled in the moving’ to maintain a vitality in life. Her current effort United States. Her father, Jonas Bjornsson, was a dual to promote active lifestyles is a personal challenge she citizen of Iceland and Canada, operating a fishing has undertaken to experience 93 new things for her 93 trawler at Souris, Prince Edward Island. She has many year. Ieda provides updates and encouragement to relatives still in Iceland, but her offspring - ten followers by posting photos and descriptions of new children, eighteen grandchildren, nineteen great- activities that this year has included the mundane to grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren - all daring - like dying her hair red, trying avocados, driving currently reside in North America. a snowmobile, zip-lining in Iceland, and giving her first television interview. The Sun Run is planned as her On April 13th, Ieda will be participating in the Nordic 83rd event of the year. Spirit 2019 event, "Are We There Yet?", to be held at the Scandinavian Centre and presented by the It is important to her to maintain these activities. Scandinavian Cultural Society. She will share her story Three years ago, Ieda suffered a stroke while at her of how she came to America, a tale she loves to tell, home. She quickly recognized the symptoms and from the unexpected proposal on their second date to immediately sought medical attention. She credits a being a homesick young girl finding comfort in the complete and rapid recovery to the proficiency of the kleinur (Icelandic doughnut) she found in her pocket medical staff and prompt treatment. The experience days after arriving in America. She even wrote a book motivated her to speak out using social media and to recount her recollections of Iceland, intending to public appearances, promoting stroke symptom share the memories with her grandchildren, but it awareness.