Search this site

Friday

Jonas Thor: Icelandic settlements, Friday 9:15 am

Jonas Thor was born in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1949. Received the normal elementary/ high school education before entering Univeristy of Iceland. Finishes his BA in English and History at the University of Iceland in 1977. Completed his MA in History from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 1980. His thesis was entitled A Religious Controversy Among Icelandic Immigrants In North America 1874-1880. Editor of Lögberg-Heimskringla 1980-1986, Part time lecturer at the Icelandic Department, University of Manitoba 1980-1986. Taught at NATO Military Base in Keflavik from 1987-1998. University of Maryland, European Division. Manages own travel company Thortravels in Iceland.

 
Phyllis Pollard: Knitting, 9:15am 

Phyllis Pollard was born in Gimli, attended University of Manitoba and Queen’s, and retired from teaching at Branksome Hall in Toronto. Her interest in all things Icelandic was rekindled by a trip to Iceland last June and she was inspired to explore her heritage through yarn and silver.  

 

Opportunities to learn Icelandic  10:15am

Margrét Björgvinsdóttir is a teacher from Iceland who has taught Icelandic both in Winnipeg and Toronto. She is currently teaching the Senior Icelandic language class for the Icelandic Canadian Club in Toronto.

Dr. Birna Bjarnadóttir,  Chair  (or is it head of the University of Manitoba´s Department of Icelandic

Meredith MacFarquhar

Margaret Van Hamme

 
J. Marshall Burgess QC: History plus society work 1998-2010
 
 
 
Guy Scott: Kinmount Settlement, 11:15am

Guy Scott’s ancestors interacted with the Kinmount settlers, and in his book “History of Kinmount”, Guy has written about this era. He is a high school history teacher who still lives on the family homestead: a 5th generation rock farmer! The local Historical Society, Kinmount Fair and the Kinmount Gazette are among his many interests in the community.

 

George A Freeman: Genealogy, 11:15am                                                                 George A Freeman, author and genealogist, is a retired 4th generation Icelander. He was born, raised, and educated in North Dakota. He is a member of three North Dakota Icelandic clubs, and former board member of the INL. He compiled and published the “Pembina County Pioneer Daughter Biographies”. He volunteers at the Genealogy Center during the Deuce of August in Mountain, North Dakota. 

 
Almar Grimsson and Wanda Anderson: Snorri Presentation, Lunch
SNORRI PROGRAMS  Almar Grímsson, President of INL Iceland and Chairman of the Snorri Foundation, and Wanda Anderson, Program Co-ordinator of Snorri West, will give us an update on all the Snorri programs, under two of which North Americans of Icelandic descent visit Iceland.  The programs include the original Snorri program for youth between 18 and 28, Snorri Plus for those 30 and over and Snorri West, which brings youth from Iceland to Manitoba. We will also hear from some of the participants in the programs.
 Almar is currently a member of the City Council in his home town of Hafnarfjörður. Formerly he was on the staff of the Ministry of Health and for 7 years Iceland's representative in the World Health Organization. He retired from pharmacy and the health sector 12 years ago.  Wanda has been with Snorri West for the last 10 years. She is also the Secretary-Treasurer for the Icelandic River Heritage Sites Inc. Wanda lives in Riverton, Manitoba and is a farm partner with her husband Tim.

 

J. Marshall Burgess::  Markland and Lockeport Settlements: History plus Society Work 1998-2010. 1:45pm

The Huskilsson family was the only family which stayed in N.S.  Descendant J. Marshall Burgess, QC, with others set up the Icelandic Society in 1998. He retired as a lawyer in the NS Department of Justice after 3l years and continues to live in Halifax.

 

Friðrik Ragnar Jónsson: Carbon Recycling, 2:45pm

Born in Ísafjörður in 1956 of a long line of Vestfirðingar. Grandfather a farmer and fishery owner in Bolungavik. Moved to Reykjavik in 1966 to Gardabær and stúdentspróf from  Menntaskólinn við Tjörnina 1976. Received a US grant to study Aerospace Engineering in USA, completed in 1980. Pilot with Icelandair until 1995. Retired early to take care of own inventions and companies. Established Carbon Recycling International in 2005. Bought Emery International in Toronto, the world leading paper recycling technology company in 2006. 

 
Brian Johannesson: Falcon's Gold, 2:45pm
Brian was born in Winnipeg, the fourth child of Freda and Konnie Johannesson.He graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1958 and moved to Montreal to begin a 50 year computer engineering career. He created the Winnipeg Falcons website in September 1999 using many of the family papers, pictures and memorabilia.  After the 2001 Olympic medal controversy, he gave his father’s Falcons’ jersey to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
 
John Thordarson: Walking Tour, 3:45pm
John Thordarson was born in Winnipeg and lived in the Icelandic communities of Langruth and Westbourne MB, then Winnipeg, London ON and Montreal before settling in Toronto in the early 1960's. He is the owner and manager of a company known as Thorco International that specializes in exporting industrial products to overseas markets. 
 
Don Gislason: Walking Tour, 3:45pm  

Don Gislason lived in Wynyard SK, Vancouver BC, Windsor ON and Nigeria before settling in Toronto.  He is a retired Geography teacher/administrator, an honorary member of the INL of NA, author of The Icelanders of Kinmount, and has served on the ICCT executive for many years.

Lindy: Friday Evening Entertainment                                                                  Lindy is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who also performs as the front man for the band 'Major Maker'. The group won the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award and this comes after all the acclaim of his solo record 'Suspension of Disbelief'. Seeing Lindy perform solo is a jaw dropping experience and is, these days, a rare occasion - www.lindymusic.com

Sigrun Stella  and Michael Lowry: Friday Evening Entertainment                              Up and coming singer/songwriter Sigrun Stella and her guitar player/songwriter Mike Lowry have been performing traditional Icelandic music mixed in with blues, jazz and folk which they have created a unique style to call their own. An EP is currently in the works as the two continue to write and record music in the Toronto area.