The Golden Jubilee
A year of two celebrations
W.D. Valgardson, Victoria, BC
There were effectively two Icelandic celebrations in Manitoba a century ago. What we know today as the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, which was still held in Winnipeg at the time, went ahead as usual in River Park on August 3, 1925, drawing some 2,000 participants. (You can read a contemporaneous account of the event in the previous issue of Lögberg-Heimskringla.)
Less than three weeks later – on Saturday, August 22, 1925 – Manitoba’s Icelandic community gathered in Gimli to mark the Golden Jubilee of the settlement of New Iceland. On that occasion, attendance swelled to 5,000 people! The following Monday, the story was front page news in The Manitoba Free Press. Here is the Free Press account of the event, which we reprint in its entirety.
Jubilee Symbolizes Foundation of Gimli
In a pine grove gay with bunting, flags and pennants, the largest concourse of Icelandic people ever gathered in one place in Canada, met at Gimli Park on Saturday to commemorate the arrival on this spot 50 years ago of the first party or colonists from Iceland on October 21, 1875. A vast crowd, placed at 5,000 and drawn from all over western Canada and the United States, paid tribute to the memory of the brave members of this party who have laid down the burden and gave reverent homage to the fifteen aged survivors who, in their eighties and nineties, occupied the well-earned place of honor in the proceedings of the day.
It was the greatest re-union of old timers ever witnessed in any Icelandic community. Frail old people, who had not met for 40 years or more, tried to pierce the disguises wrought, by time. They sought wistfully for some fleeting expression, trick or mannerism to bring back the friend of their youth somehow buried ‘neath the years.
Reminiscences
Of course there were reminiscences. There was the story of how the bottom fell out of one of the houseboats, in which the party arrived, in the harbor on the south side of the Willow Point, and in which the women and children stayed, some of them, for three weeks in real cold weather, while men felled trees and built log cabins. It had been cold work salvaging the household goods, but they had been too precious to leave to “the old man of the sea.”
Since the coming of these first settlers the Icelandic colonies in this country have grown to a population of nearly 20,000. This first settlement at Gimli is looked on as the “mother” of them all.
Of the old timers entitled to seats of honor, the most outstanding in the life of the early colon was Captain Sigtryggur Jonasson, Riverton, former member of the Manitoba legislature, and resident of Winnipeg. He took leadership in all things in the early days, and to his various business enterprises was due much of the progress and wellbeing of the settlers. Another prominent many was Einar Jonasson, father of the present mayor of Gimli, who was the community’s “medicine man” before there were any licensed practitioners. Other guest of honor were: Mr. and Mrs. J. Jonasson, Riverton; Mr. and Mrs. J. Schram, Geysir; Flovent Jonsson, Geysir; Mr. and Mrs. S. Sigurbjornson, Arnes; Einar Jonasson, Gimli; Mrs. S.G. Stefanson, Gimli; Mrs. R. Johnson, Gimli; Mrs. S. Johnson, Gimli; Mrs. Benedikt Arason, Husavick; S. Dimonson, Selkirk; Gisli Johannson, North Dakota; Col. Paul Johnson, Mountain, N.D.; Mrs. G. Frederickson, Winnipeg; and C. Jonsson, Churchbridge, Sask.
The formal proceedings began with the arrival of the morning trains from Winnipeg, when a procession was formed to march to the park through the be-flagged streets, By this time the town was black with cars, almost every man, woman and child from the municipalities of Arborg and Gimli being present. A five-hour programme of music, speeches, and recitations of original poetry was carried out, and to it all the crowd gave rapt attention, frequent applause, and asked for encores.
Celebration in Park
The Gimli Park, where the celebration took place, is one of the natural beauty spots in Manitoba. It consists of several acres of young cons-shapes spruce trees – each a perfect Christmas tree – spaced out by clearings “velvety” with sweet clover. On this occasion the park was transformed into a veritable bower of beauty by the art of Fred Swanson, decorator, Winnipeg. Flags, tri-colored bunting, boughs of evergreen and splashy banners ornamented all the buildings.
A speaker’s platform erected for the occasion with a trellised frontal archway and bell-cottage roof will be presented to the park by the committee for permanent use. With its pillars wound in the tricolors and its gable and sides appearing to be ivy-mantled in its spruce-bough screen, the musicians’ three-sided stand drew many admiring glances.
In the parade the central float was the “houseboat,” the replica of the originals in which the settlers came down the Red river in 1975 and into Lake Winnipeg. In no way did it suggest the noble-prowed galleys in which their Viking forefathers roamed the Baltic and the shores of the North Sea in the Viking age.
This “barque” was 18x12, box like and anything but a speedy looking craft. It was gayley decorated and bore on both sides banners with “Pioneers 1875-1925.” Inside rode the pioneers.
In the procession on foot the juvenile choir from Arborg, clad in white uniforms, was the outstanding feature. The adult and junior choirs, which, with the Riverton band, occupied seats in an artistically decorated three-sided open stand with 200 raised seats in it, sang and played at intervals throughout the proceedings both English and Icelandic airs. Repeated encores were asked for and given, sometimes several encores at a time, in spite of the length of formal proceedings.
Especially did the lilting toned snappy selections of the children’s choir of 60 voices meet with favor. Again and again the crowd insisted on “more, more” – and got it. Both choirs were under the direction of Brynjolfur Thorlakson, of Arborg.
The Riverton band, under G.J. Guttormson, also received its quota of applause and encores.
Sincere Regrets
Among those who sent wires regretting inability to attend and expressive of good wishes, were Mayor R.H. Webb, Winnipeg; Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Arctic explorer, New York; G.J. Olson, Glenboro, representing his district; and A. Johnson, for the people of Sinclair, Man.
Mayor Webb said: “Regret exceedingly not being able to be with your association this afternoon in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of your district by your wonderful people. I have to go to Ottawa in connection with another 250-ton pulp and paper mill for Manitoba in which your people are vitally interested, I know. Please convey my very best wishes and in the near future I hope to have an opportunity of meeting you and the people of your town and district. In the meantime, good luck and success for the future.”
The explorer, who was born near Arnes, 13 miles north of Gimli, said among other things in his message:
“Had been hoping to personally attend your fiftieth anniversary celebration but find it impossible. I was born in your settlement in the most difficult pioneer period and still I have much reason to be grateful for the circumstances of my childhood. I know the same must be true for most of the rest of you. This land, whether Canada or the United States, has given us wonderful opportunities. I am sure that as a class we shall be able to make adequate repayment through a high average of progressive citizenship. Best wishes for the success of your celebration.” Signed, “Vilhjalmur Stefansson.”
From the people of the Sinclair district came the following message of good-will:
“On this the golden jubilee of our Icelandic brothers, we, of the Sinclair district, commemorate jointly with you ‘Our Day’ as it is being observed in Gimli. We regret that we cannot join you in person but we are with you in spirit. Memories of past association with you link us to you. ‘One Franternity,’ is the thought which goes from us today to you Gimli old timers.”
G.J. Olson, editor of the Glenboro Gazette, representing this community, wired:
“On the occasion of jubilee celebration, your people of this community send greetings. We join with you in thanksgiving for the victory of your battle, we pray for a successful day and a great future.”
Official Hostess
A unique honor was accorded to Mrs. S.G. Stefanson, of Gimli, in the appointment by the committee to the post of official hostess to receive all comers and welcome them to the quaint log cabin – quaint to all the younger population who come to see it and its crude appointments, but to her very realistic. It was an almost perfect model of the first log cabins hurriedly pit up by the men of the party when it landed in the face of a blinding snowstorm in the fall of 1875, one of which was her own first home in western Canada.
Many of those who called to pay their respects were persons who in the pioneer days had enjoyed Mrs. Stefanson’s hospitality – such as those difficult days permitted. Some of the callers Saturday were in their eighties and nineties and had not met her in nearly 50 years having migrated to other districts. Others were comparatively young folk – in their fifties and sixties – who had spent a night under Mrs. Stefanson’s roof as children or paid a visit with their parents. In this latter class who called were Arni Eggertson, Carl Goodman, and Mrs. P.S. Bardal of Winnipeg.
The cabin was furnished with a rough deal table, a bedstead made bunk-fashion from the trunks of small trees, a “No. 8” cook stove: a fancy “chest” or trunk – with “1874” – the year this part left Iceland – lettered on its side.
Then there was an old-fashioned copper lamp partly boat-shaped which burned melted fats and had a piece of cotton twisted into a wick sticking up from the “prow.” It was the only lighting apparatus these first housekeepers had and must have added considerably to the work of the household. At least, on Saturday one man was kept fairly busy to keep it going!
Another article was the carved ornate wooden bowl and horn spoon which were common in all homes in Iceland. Still another was a board, also hand carved and richly ornamented with letters and “runes.” It was used in place of a railing at the front of the bunks to hold the feather beds in place during the cold weather. Wooden blocks, sawed from the trunks of stout trees formed the chairs for the family.
At the close of day Mrs. Stefanson was forcibly reminded of the descriptions of the visit of the Prince of Wales here – her shoulder ached and her hand was limp and sore from shaking hands with her callers! Mrs. Stefanson in the widow of the late Jonas Stefanson, know to a great many of the Selkirk settlers in the early days as “The Scotch Icelander.”
Mayor’s Welcome
Mayor Einar Jonasson made a most capable presiding officer. Following this official welcome of the honor guests and others he said in part:
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the arrival of the first Icelandic settlers 50 years ago. Those 50 years have been both bitter and sweet. Bitter – for the hardships and suffering these people had to endure, particularly through the first two winters; sweet – for the victory won.
“What made these people part with a land they loved as dearly as they loved Iceland? It may have been partly to better their own condition. It may have been the wanderlust. But in my opinion it was neither of these. It was the desire to give greater opportunity to their descendants.
“To these courageous and unselfish men and women – the pioneers – we younger people owe more that most of us realize in the hurry and bustle of these times. Do we stop to think that the opportunities we enjoy in this great country are ours only because of the adventure and daring of our parents – the pioneers?
“It has been suggested that a monument be erected to the memory of the pioneers. That is both appropriate and merited. At the same time, we younger people can raise them a monument worth more to them than one of granite or marble through simply using the opportunities they have given us to the utmost of our ability and developing within ourselves the characteristics of honesty and unselfishness which stamped them, and let these become synonymous in this country with the name ‘Icelander.’”
Government Greetings
Greetings and good wishes from the provincial government were conveyed by Hon. W.R. Clubb representing Premier Bracken. Up to two months ago when he had toured this district he had had no conception of the progress made, Mr. Clubb said. In his opinion the pioneers who came here from Iceland had done more than any other class in the province to lay its foundation. Commenting on the park, the speaker thought the original settlers must have been guided by a “vision” to make such happy selection of a site.
The Danish consul, A.C. Johnson, Winnipeg, delivered felicitations from the crown of Denmark and government.
The thundering oratory of Dr. B.B. Jonsson, pastor of the First Lutheran church, Winnipeg, as he told the story of the pioneers and drew vivid word pictures of their sacrifices and endurance, fetched round after round of applause. It was the Pioneers’ day.
Dr. Jonsson told of the currents in Icelandic national life which led the first emigrants to think of far away Canada; of how they were spurred by the hope of bettering the lot of their children; of the sacrifices and sad partings on the eve of departure and of the arrival here in the face of winter.
The publication of a newspaper in the settlement was another incident that was favorably commented on as the settlers’ desire for religious leadership which was practically demonstrated by the forming of congregations in the first years of the colony and extension of a “call” all the way to Iceland.
Thirst for Knowledge
In illustration of the thirst for knowledge among the Icelandic people, Rev. R. Kvaran, Winnipeg, in proposing the toast to Iceland, pointed out that Iceland published 25 times as many books in proportion to population as Great Britain did.
Standard of Living
The standard of living and the cultural acquirements among the Icelanders in western Canada were of such a high order as to around comment anywhere said Einar Hjorleifsson Kvaran, of Reykjavik, Iceland, the Icelandic government’s special envoy to the celebration, in the course of his delivery of greetings and good wishes from his country. Mr. Kvaran resident in Winnipeg for many years and is Iceland’s most prominent writer at the present time.
During his eight months’ tour of the Icelandic districts of this country, Mr. Kvaran declared he had made special study of what became of the high percentage of young Icelanders who secure higher education. He had discovered that at least 19 occupied professorial chairs at universities; there were an explorer and a scientist of international repute among them; there were at least 40 medical doctors; over 40 lawyers; a judge; a cabinet minister; three librarians at large libraries; 18 representatives to legislative assemblies; an industrial magnate in the electrical field; And a great civil engineer.
Dean Thorson
“I cannot ask the older man who knows Iceland, who was born there, brought up in its traditions, steeped in its literature, full of its national consciousness, to cast out from his soul the very fibre of his being. We who are born in this country are in a different position. To us Canada is our native land, here we live and have our opportunities; here our children are born; here we expect to die; here there can be but one choice between Iceland and Canada, and that choice is Canada. The spirit of national consciousness is a jealous mistress, brooking no rival.”
This is one of the many striking passages in a forceful address on Canada delivered by Joseph T. Thorson, dean of the Law school, Winnipeg, in which he dealt with the growth of the soul of Canada as a nation, closing with the contribution Icelandic settlers have made, are making, and may make to the characteristics of that soul or “national consciousness.”
Dean Thorson deprecated the dependent form of Canada’s status under the British North America act, but declared life goes ahead of the law and that the “husks of the law do not conceal the ripening kernel of Canadian nationhood.”
Continuing, he said: “The spirit of nationality, I take to mean the spirit which makes a people hold together and carries them through adversity, willing to lay down their lives for their country, and that it may continue free and prosperous. There are many in this land who would oppose that spirit of nationhood, who raise the cry of disloyalty to the Empire. Their fears are groundless. No one in this audience admires England, the mother of liberty, more than I do. Canada must follow the model of England on her March to her self-realization and she should be unworthy of her mother, and we who are of non-British origin would be unworthy of our foster mother, if we were unwilling to take our place in the march along the road to national consciousness. Among Canada’s problems are the obstacles in economic needs for her widely divergent areas such as the Maritimes, the Central provinces and the Western and Coast provinces. Then, too, there are the non-British origins other than Icelandic. Each group must make its own contribution to this life of the new land. ... The spirit of national consciousness is a jealous mistress brooking no rival.
“And so our lot is cast. I have almost finished. What contribution can we make? What qualities can we give to the life of Canada? It has been my great privilege to speak on several occasions recently on the early history of the Icelandic settlements in North America. If I have been guilty of inaccuracies of detail, I ask your pardon. I’ve been more concerned to trace their pathway through hardship and privation to the success and prosperity they now enjoy. What qualities did these heroic pioneers display? What held them in this settlement and in other parts of Canada despite years of deadening adversity? The same qualities as have held Iceland together for over 1,000 years of adversity and have raised her to her present position of independence and freedom. Those qualities were not qualities of brilliance but infinitely more valuable qualities – tenacity of purpose, singleness of mind, perseverance, industry and courage. If these qualities have been transmitted to us, and if we can give them to Canada, we can play a not unworthy part in the task of nation building. We can add fuel to the fire of Canadian national consciousness that will enable that fire to burn with a bright, steady, and strong flame, a flame that will light the pathway of Canada’s march to a free, upright, clean and virile nationhood.”
