President's Report
- Annual General Meeting
September
23rd, 2006
by Irene Finnson
ICCBC Annual General Meeting September 23, 2006
President's Report
I would first like to thank the members of the board
for their hard work and dedication over the past year and
I would especially like to thank our board members who
are retiring, Kristín Jóhannsdóttir
and Brian Cairns. They should also be aware that they are
free to reconsider their decisions. Brian and
Kristín have indicated that they will continue to
contribute, Brian as consultant to the Scholarship
committee and Kristín as language teacher.
There have been a few major changes since last
year.
The library committee headed by Margaret Kerry has
reorganized the newly renovated library into a more
user-friendly format. Please have a look later, and one
of the committee members will be available to answer your
questions.
The south-east corner of the house was leaking, and
causing the timbers to rot, so at considerable expense,
the whole area was torn out, and repaired. A decision was
taken by the Iceland House Committee to refurbish the
guest rooms, the largest change being the removal of
carpeting in the bedrooms, and restoration of the
hardwood floors. Most of the work was done by Otto
Olafsson.
The biggest change was the hiring of a new manager,
Millie Ogbamicael. She has been with us since November,
and is slowly getting used to our ways. I hope you take
the opportunity to chat with her.
As always, our greatest concern is reaching out to the
members, and trying to find new ways to stimulate their
interest. Those lucky enough to have attended the
fund-raising traditional Christmas dinner prepared by
Maggy and Otto know how enriching new ideas can be.
Gerri is planning to take the ICCBC show "on the
road", and is planning a genealogy workshop in Nanaimo.
We would like to expand the road show to include
communities throughout BC.
We are always looking for new ideas and welcome any
input. We are also always on the lookout for new
directors. If we keep looking at the same old faces,
chances are that the same old ideas will continue to
surface.
WE NEED YOU, or failing that, any or all of your
relatives.
Submitted by
Irene Finnson, President
ICC of BC
Index
"Leifur" - early
Winnipeg Icelandic newspaper, discovered bound and in
good condition !
Vol. 1, #1 complete to Vol. 3, #51 (1883 -
1886)
by Robert Asgeirsson
VANCOUVER -- The Icelandic Care Home, Höfn, has
been a major source of Icelandic documents and record
books for the Icelandic
Archives of British Columbia, IABC. Approximately
3,000 Icelandic books have also been donated by Höfn
to the ICC of BC for its Icelandic
Heritage Library. Many of these books are turn of the
century editions with some dating back to the early
1800's. Computer cataloging of this library collection is
now complete.
During a recent inspection of boxes of archive
material that came from Höfn, two large hard bound
books were discovered in amongst layers of old papers.
The first book inspected turned out to be a collection of
"Leifur" newspapers from volume 1, #1 to volume 3, #51.
The papers, small in size for a newspaper, are printed in
Icelandic and would appear (by their publication date) to
precede the publications of both Heimskringla and
Lögberg newspapers.
"Leifur" was printed in Winnipeg starting with the May
5th, 1883 edition and appears to have been the immediate
successor to the New Iceland newspaper known as
"Framfari". Its publication date places it approximately
in the middle of the "12 Year Republic" period (1876-88)
of New Iceland.
The second book is a collection of "Ísafold"
(Reykjavík) newspapers covering the period from
Feb. 7th, 1891 to December 28, 1892. This volume of
papers is not in as good condition as the "Leifur"
volume. Although this book appears to have been well
thumbed, it is still in good enough shape to be perused
carefully.
Another remarkable 'find' emerged from the basement at
Höfn about five years ago when staff members were
trying to clean out one of the storage areas. Complete
bound volumes of Heimskringla were discovered. The
condition of this collection of papers is remarkable for
their age. They were all kept in a metal suitcase with
aromatic cedar lining and are damage free. The
Heimskringla collection of papers starts with volume 1,
#1 and is complete for the first few years. Other volumes
consist of papers published a number of years after
startup.
What would be interesting to know is how and why these
significant historical documents ended up in B.C. Serious
researchers interested in examining this historical
material may contact:
Robert Ásgeirsson, curator
I.A.B.C.
C/O Iceland House
939 6th Street,
New Westminster, BC, V3L 3C8
e-mail: robasg@telus.net
Ph. (604) 536-9377
It is hoped to have a showing of these precious
volumes and other historical material this Fall at
Iceland House.
Index
Winner - Open Poetry
Íslendingadagurinn 1996
GIMLI 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 and is the
daughter of Carol Bjarnason and Bill Foster, and the
grand-daughter of Gusta and Harold Bjarnason, formerly
of Gimli. She is a previous recipient of an ICC of BC
scholarship and has presently been accepted in the
Masters program of Creative Writing at UBC.
Index
Learning
Icelandic
An Anonymous Ode To The Complexities Of
Grammar
You saw a ship go 'round the bend
In Iceland? Call it "skip", my friend.
But if you saw THE ship you use
"Hið skip", or "skipið" as you choose.
Supposing, then, that to this ship
You wish to go -- you can't say "skip"
The Nominative Case -- ah, no --
Rather, to "skipsins", do you go --
Then, up the ship-sides clamber you
"Hið skip", or "Hin skip" will not do.
Again, 'tis the Possessive Case
"Hin skips" or skipsin" used in place.
But, coming 'round the bend, maybe
Two ships, or three or four you see.
Then "skipin" see you, or "hin skip"
Plural Accusative of ship.
If to the ships you wend your way,
Is "skipin" still the word? Nay! Nay!
You now come to "hinna skipa" go --
Or to "skipanna" walk or row.
And pray be careful, lest you trip
Over a Dative on the ship.
Many have come to grief ere you
And barked their shins on "skipinu".
Enough! you say, in heaven's name, come
Lower the boats from "skipinu".
Desert the "skip" that is no ship
But various forms and kinds of "skip".
All right, if you insist, but we
Must take our leave grammatically.
"Hið skip" or "skipið" leave we now,
To "hinna skipa" make our bow.
Against "skipunum" far and near
Echoes our heartfelt parting cheer.
"Hið skip" -- Farewell! -- and ship ahoy,
God give Icelandic students, joy!
Index
Symphony
of Dawn
by Kristiana Clark
the sea the sky the earth
wait...
poised in readiness
for the ritual to begin'
suddenly
the sky explodes
and fiery hues burst forth
radiating beams
against the pilings
of a lonely dock
leaning into the sea,
breathing new life
into it aging timbers
Index
If you found our sample articles interesting and would
like to receive our 8 page newsletter by mail along with
our comprehensive year 2000 Membership Directory, click
on the 'Membership'
link to find out more about joining our Icelandic
society.
Get connected to your roots and celebrate your
heritage.
| INL
News Index
|