On August 22, 2009: Nelson Gerrard is the founder of the Eyrarbakki Icelandic Heritage Centre and vice-president of Icelandic River Heritage Sites. He spent a couple of hours with us in the morning at his home on the banks of Lake Winnipeg. Over coffee he introduced us to his research and his passion for the [...]
Our last full day in Iceland was glorious. In the morning we met Gissur Pétursson – a real pleasure. He explained exactly how the Icelandic government works together with the Manitoba government to fast track immigration applications. What they’re doing is working together to promote the resumes of desirable applicants to companies that need those [...]
On August 12 we had a particularly delightful time at the home of Friðrik Þor Guðmundsson and his wife Kristín. They served us a “snack” which included Icelandic pancakes, pastries, meats – and of course, outstanding coffee. For a few simple Canadians, it was a feast. Fridrik has provided us with many helpful contacts and [...]
Alana Odegard is a Canadian of Icelandic descent who came to Iceland 5 years ago on a student visa – and fell in love. She met her husband Gunnar Guðmundsson at a local bar – the instant he saw her, he was smitten. He walked right up to her and told her with exceptional confidence, [...]
Árni Páll Árnason, Icelandic Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security, met with us for almost an hour this morning. He shared his insights into the present state of emigration in Iceland and the importance of the Canadian-Icelandic relationship. As he talked about the history of our friendship, he explained how Canada had invested heavily [...]
Valdimar Páll Halldórsson is a journeyman plumber and pipe-fitter who has applied to emigrate to Canada along with his wife and 3 children. He has already lived in Scotland and Ireland, but he has chosen Canada at least in part because of the Manitoba initiative to ease immigration for Icelanders. Although Valdimar’s wife is American, [...]
From Ensku Husin we drove to Hofsos, a small fishing village on the north end of the island that now houses the emigration museum. There is an impressive complex of restored and purpose-built buildings that house displays of the 1870-1914 mass emigration. Valgeir Thorvaldsson, the owner and curator, gave us a wonderful tour while [...]
Today we had the special pleasure of connecting with some relatives in Ensku Husin, about 100 km north of Reykjavik. I have been dreaming of this day for many years and the meeting exceeded my expectations. The house itself has a story worth telling. It is beautifully situated among the rolling hills on the banks [...]
We arrived at Keflavik International airport at 6:30 in the morning Icelandic time (2:30 a.m. in Montreal). After a struggle we managed to squeeze all five of us and the bags and camera equipment into our rental car and headed for Reykjavik. The scenic drive gave us a taste for what the rest of the [...]