Awards
Each year, we recognize members and non-members who have had a strong impact on the Icelandic community with a number of awards.
Want to nominate someone? Check out the criteria.
Laurence S. G. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award
The Laurence S. G. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award was initiated in 2003 to be bestowed upon a recipient for “contributions not only to the Icelandic Community but also in the community at large”
Laurence (Larry) Steingrimur Gudni Johnson played many roles in both his volunteer life and career. Larry played an instrumental part in the Icelandic community as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New Iceland Heritage Museum, President of the Bruin Chapter of the Icelandic National League and President of the Icelandic National League of North America. As a volunteer, Larry’s dedication extended to the Selkirk and District Chamber of Commerce, Selkirk and District Hospital Board, Manitoba Health Organization, Interlake Health Network, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Selkirk Community Library Board, Selkirk Arts Festival and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
In 1993, Larry was honoured as the city of Selkirk’s Citizen of the Year. In 1994, Larry and Edith’s family were named by the Province of Manitoba as Family of the Year. Larry and Edith were also featured on an episode of the television program, Cross Country Canada showcasing their shared passion of old time dancing.
Larry was born in Hnausa, Manitoba on June 29, 1928. He was educated in Riverton and Stonewall, MB. He worked as a teacher, carnie, sales representative, hotel and retail manager, motorcycle cop, volunteer board member, president, loving husband, father and Afi. Wherever his life took him, Larry’s passion and dedication touched the hearts and lives throughout his life.
Past winners:
2003 | Neil Bardal of Winnipeg, MB, awarded in Edmonton, AB
2004 | Dr. Ken Thorlakson of Winnipeg, MB, awarded in Hecla, MB
2005 | Stella Stephanson of Elfros, SK, awarded in Vatnabyggð, SK
2006 | Lillian Gudmundson of Arborg, MB, awarded in Victoria, BC
2007 | Stefan Stefanson of Gimli, MB, awarded in Winnipeg, MB
2008 | Dilla Narfason of Gimli, MB, awarded in Calgary, AB
2009 | Walter Sopher of Edmonton, AB, awarded in Gimli, MB
2010 | Haraldur Bessason of Iceland/Winnipeg/Toronto, awarded in Toronto, ON (posthumously)
2011 | Margaret Evelyn Hillman Johansson of Spruce View, AB awarded in Edmonton, AB
2012| Gunnthora Gisladottir awarded in Brandon,MB
2013 | Alene Thorunn Moris, awarded in Seattle, WA
2014 | Dr. Ron Goodman, awarded in Winnipeg, MB
2015 | Gunnvör Danielsdóttir Ásmundsson. awarded in Minneapolis, MN
2016 | Garry Oddleifson, awarded in Vancouver, BC
2017 | Gail Einarson-McCleery of Toronto, ON, awarded in Grand Forks, ND
2018 | Donald E. Gislason, awarded in Edmonton, AB
2019 | Margrét (Maddý) Kristjánsdóttir Arnar and Örn Arnar, MD, awarded in Winnipeg, MB
2020 | Rögnvaldur Sveinn Lyle Hillman
2021 | J. Timothy Samson, Q.C.
2022 | Brad Hirst
Joan Inga Eyolfson Cadham Award
The Joan Inga Eyolfson Cadham Award was established in 2017 to recognize individuals who have been outstanding in the promotion of Icelandic culture and heritage by way of literature, arts, or media.
The award was established in honour of Joan Eyolfson Cadham, an adventurer, journalist, and weaver of stories, possessed of strong ethics and a deep faith.
A contributor to diverse media, from CBC Radio to Foam Lake Review and Wynyard Advance, Joan was best known in the Icelandic community as the editor of Lögberg-Heimskringla from 2011 to 2014 and the acting editor before then. As a freelance author, editor, and storyteller, Joan was rarely seen without her camera and notebook. She was also active as a leader in the Vatnabyggð Icelandic Club in Saskatchewan, where she put her heart and soul into promoting and maintaining Icelandic traditions and customs.
Joan’s many contributions were recognized when she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her efforts as “a lifelong champion of history and heritage, culture and community.”
Joan Inga Eyolfson Cadham was born on September 9, 1940 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Helgi Andres Eyolfson and Olive Borgfjord. She was raised on a farm near Leslie, where she attended the one-room school at Rosevale until the family moved to Foam Lake. Following high school graduation, she moved to Toronto and studied journalism at Ryerson Institute of Technology. In response to frequent moves and the arrival of children – Joe Chisholm, Ruth Chisholm-Davin, and Inga Chisholm – Joan took a hiatus from writing, but the creative spark reignited when she moved to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. Joan returned to Foam Lake with her husband, Jack, in 1992. She died at home in Foam Lake on October 28, 2015.
Joan’s published books include Bent but Not Broken: Today’s Canadian Church (co-authored with David Letourneau and Dennis Dwyer, 1992), Red Right Returning (1998), The Canadian Book of Days (co-authored with Harvey Grossman, 2005), The Prairie Does Flourish: Sisters of St. Elizabeth – 100 Years of Blooming on Canadian Soil (2011), and The Twelve Gifts of Christmas and Other Stories (2015).
Past winners:
2022 | Lorna Tergesen
2020 | Ruth Christie
2019 | David Gislason
2018 | Stefan Jonasson
2017 | W.D. (Bill) Valgardson
Strong Is The Bond (Roöm Er Sú Taug) Award
Nominee criteria:
must be a current member in good standing of INL Iceland or an INLNA organization (i.e. Chapter/Club, Affiliate, Associate, or Individual)
served 15 or more years within INL Iceland, INLNA (Chapter/Club, Affiliate, Associate, or Individual)
has been dedicated to strengthening the bonds both locally and internationally
made significant contributions through volunteering with INL/INLNA
involvement in international programs, events, education, IS language, heritage, culture, online projects and more
reaching across borders to Canada, USA, Iceland and beyond as a volunteer locally and internationally promoting all things Icelandic in a positive way
promoting and preserving the ties between all our countries by VOLUNTEER activities
Past winners:
2022 | Jónas Þór
2020 | Gail Einarson-McCleery
2019 | Almar Grímsson
The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award recognizes individuals who have been nominated by their member club for having shown outstanding service to INLNA through service in their member club for a minimum of 10 years and have demonstrated involvement in the promotion of Icelandic Culture and Heritage plus involvement in community activities.