Author: Stefan Jonasson

 

“Interconnected Shores,” or Tengdar strendur in Icelandic, is the theme of the 137th Íslendingadagurinn, which will take place in Gimli, Manitoba, from Friday, July 31, to Monday, August 3, 2026. This theme celebrates the relationships and blending of cultures and traditions since Icelandic immigrants established New Iceland along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, immersing themselves in their new freshwater home, among new neighbours, while maintaining their deep ties with the land and culture they left behind.

“This year’s theme reflects a story that is central to the history of New Iceland and Manitoba,” according to Sigrun Asmundsson, president of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba. “Last year, we commemorated 150 years since the first Icelandic settlers arrived on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. This year, we are reflecting on what followed. The history of New Iceland was shaped not by one community alone, but through relationships, cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge among the people whose lives became connected on these shores.

Author: Sunna Olafson Furstenau

 

Every summer, northeastern North Dakota celebrates the Deuce of August. Known to earlier generations as the 2nd of August, it has brought descendants, friends, and neighbors together for generations to celebrate their shared heritage and community.

In 2026, as America celebrates its 250th birthday, the Deuce carries even greater significance. This is the year we celebrate with favorite events and also break ground on the new Icelandic Rootshús, a permanent home for the Icelandic story in North America. 

Author: Katrín Níelsdóttir

 

Gerry Stefanson calls himself “The Wordbutcher,” but his relationship with language is more
inventive than destructive. He takes words apart, listens to their sounds and puts them back
together in unexpected ways. When the word he needs does not exist, he may simply create it.

“I just like playing with words,” he says.

Born and raised in Selkirk, Manitoba, Stefanson comes from Icelandic families on both sides. His Stefanson and Walterson relatives were connected to the fishing and dredging industries, and he grew up around the docks, fish sheds, and boats of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg. Icelandic was spoken by adults around him, although, as in many immigrant families, the children were encouraged to become more fully Canadian.

Family stories remain central to his writing. Stefanson remembers colourful relatives, including a fisherman grandfather nicknamed “Steve Riley” because he was said to possess the luck of the Irish. He also remembers storytellers such as his Uncle Johnny and, especially, his father, who carried a detailed knowledge of both sides of the family.