First of all, I am very excited to be the new executive secretary for the INL of NA. I have a huge learning curve ahead of me and am looking forward to every minute of it.
Rosa was very informative and patient. It was great to have some time with her before being left on my own in this new world.
I guess I should say that I am a "wanna-be" Icelander who chose to live in this wonderful community of Gimli when I retired early (3 years ago). I always found this town so charming and laid back whenever I visited over the years. When my daughter was young we had exciting times bringing her out here to march in the Icelandic Parade with her little baton group - they often won a prize and looked forward to the yearly event. Each visit here seemed to bring a peacefulness for me, so it seemed a natural choice to move here when I could.
I grew up in Fort Frances, Ontario and then lived in Winnipeg for 37 years. Although I am single now, I do have 2 sons (Jeremy and Brad) living in Winnipeg, and 1 daughter (Ginette) that is currently in Glasgow, Scotland. I also have 2 granddaughters living in Winnipeg (Katie is 13 yrs old and Sofia is 14 months old). I have a new grandchild expected to arrive at beginning of September and there is a rumor that it's a boy - so that will be exciting.
My career was largely with Manitoba Justice in Winnipeg. Over the years I worked in Juvenile Court, Criminal Court, Regional Courts, Traffic Court, and Administration/Special Projects. (Years ago I was a court clerk for Kris Stefanson (formerly of Gimli) when he was a crown attorney....he's now a Justice.) I was also a Magistrate for many years and was the Director of the Traffic Court office in Winnipeg for 15 years. I was involved when Winnipeg brought in photo radar which was a very interesting and challenging adventure to say the least.
Though I have an extensive administrative background the requirements of the INL office will keep me interested and challenged for quite a while.
I hope the above gives you some sense of who I am, and I will look forward to getting to know many of you as time goes on.
Bye for now, have a great day.
Gwen
Ambassador Markús Örn Antonsson has been appointed Director of the National Heritage Centre in Iceland from Sept. 1, 2008. Accordingly, he and his wife Steinunn Ármannsdóttir are leaving their posting in Ottawa this week. Story here.
Born on May 14, 1946 in Siglufjordur Iceland
Ministerial Career
Minister for the Environment 2004-2006.
Minister for Nordic Co-operation since 2005-2006.
Parliamentary Career
Member of Althingi for the Reykjanes Constituency 1991-2003 and for the Southwest Constituency 2003-2007, the Independence Party.
Party Group
Chairman of the parliamentary group of the Independence Party 1998-2003.
Standing comittiees
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 2002-2003.
Chairman of the Committee on Education and Culture 1991-2002.
Member of the Committee on Economy and Trade 1999-2003.
Chairman of the Althingi Special Committee on Constitutional Affairs 2001-2003, member 1999-2003.
Member of the Committee on Health and Social Security 1991-1999 and 2003-2004.
Member of the Committee on Industry 1991-1999 and 2006-2007.
Chairman of the Committee on the Environment 2003-2004.
Member of the Committee on Credentials 2003-2005.
Chairman of the Icelandic Delegation to the Nordic Council 2006-2007 and member 1991-2004.
Chairman of the Icelandic Delegation to the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region 2002-2004.
President of the Nordic Council 2000-2001.
Vice president of the parliament 2006 - 2007.
Other activities
Teacher in Elementary School of Grundarfjördur 1975-1990 and Elementary School in Mosfellsbaer 1990-1991.
Chairman of the Town Council of Grundarfjördur 1978-1982, 1986-1988 and member of the Town Council 1978-1990.
Education
Graduate Akureyri College 1966.
B.A. - degree in Icelandic, History and Classical Greek from the University of Iceland.
Further studies in linguistics,- University of Minnesota, USA 1982-1983.
Married to Rev. Jon Thorsteinsson.
They have three grown up daugthers and seven grandchildren.
Please note that the 2009 Convention will be held in Gimli April 30th to May 3rd 2009 at the Gimli Lakeview Hotel and Resort. Information will be added to the INLofNA site as it becomes available.
For coverage of the 2008 Convention, please check the Calgary site and the INL site.
The 2009 INLofNA Calendar is now available. $10.00 plus shipping
Contact the INLofNA Office:
103-94 First Avenue Gimli, MB R0C 1B1
204-642-5897
inl@mts.net
or the INL chapter nearest you.
Bless, bless
Holly Ralph, Communications Director