Stephanskvöld – Stephan’s Birthday

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 – 1:00-6:00 pm

Winnipeg, MB and Online: All are welcome at this symposium celebrating the 170th anniversary of Icelandic-Canadian poet Stephan G. Stephansson’s birth and the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of the first large group of Icelandic immigrants to North America. Speakers include Zach Melton, Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Úlfar Bragason, Viðar Hreinsson, Ryan Eyford, and Edward van Vliet.

The event will conclude with the opening of “All Waters Are Homeward Paths,” in the Paul Henrik Thorbjorn Thorlakson Gallery.

This new exhibit focuses on the life and library of Stephan G. Stephansson, curated by Katrín Níelsdóttir and Katelin Marit Parsons.

The event will be held in person in the Iceland Reading Room, 330 Elizabeth Dafoe Library as well as on Zoom. Register in advance for this event: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5Mqf-qoqz0iE9FQLddaw85TcvWHKR0AFvaj  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

Tuesday 26 September

Toronto, ON: ICCT (The Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto) – Nordic Nights is back live and in-person for 2023-2024. We begin with a live in-person screening of the film Quake. The screenings will be a hybrid format with in-person screening booked for TIFF Residential Building at 80 John St. Register for Nordic Nights in the usual way, online on the ICCT website (icct.info/event/nordic-nights-quake). Register attendance in advance. You still have the choice to join Nordic Nights online and watch from the comfort of your own home. We wanted to organize a hybrid event to give our members options, and to continue to include our far-flung members the opportunity to join in. register online and you will be sent the link to join. Go to the ICCT website to register and for more information. Donations to help cover costs of rental space and films is most welcome.

Saturday 1 October

Gimli, MB: Tombola 2023, sponsored by the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society, at Minerva Hall. Doors open at 2 p.m. Door prizes, snacks, games, silent auction. Admission: $5, children 12 and under are free. Tombola tickets are $1 each for adults, two for $1 for children.

Sunday 1 October

Winnipeg, MB: Scandinavian Centre's Sunday Brunch is hosted by the Finnish Club. Brunch runs from 10:30 am - 1 pm. Reservations are to be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations deadline is noon, Friday 29 Sep. Please provide your name, number in party (including children + ages) and estimated time of arrival. Prices are $18.00 for adults, $9.00 for children ages 8-12, and free for children ages 7 and under. You can pay at the door by cash, card or cheque.

Until 3 October

Gimli, MB: Exhibit at the New Iceland Heritage Museum – Sails, Rails, Rivers and Trails – The Journey West. 

Wednesday 4 October

Gimli, MB: Book Launch – Icelandic Heritage in North America. 2 pm. Lady of the Lake Theatre.
Editors and Presenters: Úlfar Bragason, Höskuldur Thráinsson, Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir. Please spread the word to those who were involved in these linguistics study interviews or are interested in the results of the research. They will be here to talk about this book, which is a scaled down version of the Icelandic publication. They very much want to meet with and thank the individuals that were part of this research in 2014. Everyone Welcome, We will have coffee and refreshments to follow the talk.

Saturday 7 October

Geysir, MB: A program tribute in honour of Rosalind Vigfusson, founder and conductor of two New Iceland Youth Choirs, for her lifelong passion of composing, teaching, and instilling a love of music in others. Geysir Hall, 7:00 p.m. A silver collection will be taken and refreshments will be served.

Sunday 15 October

Winnipeg, MB: Scandinavian Centre's Sunday Brunch is hosted by the Icelandic Canadian Frón. Brunch runs from 10:30 am - 1 pm. Reservations are to be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations deadline is noon, Friday 13 Oct. Please provide your name, number in party (including children + ages) and estimated time of arrival. Prices are $18.00 for adults, $9.00 for children ages 8-12, and free for children ages 7 and under. You can pay at the door by cash, card or cheque.

Friday, Saturday / 20, 21 October

Port Moody, BC: The Icelandic Canadian Club of BC’s Vínarterta Baking Time. Volunteers join the work party! Friday 3 - 9 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - on. Heritage Woods Secondary, Port Moody. Email Dailene to sign up: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Saturday 21 October

Burnaby, BC: The Scandinavian and Swedish Cultural Societies present Leif Erikson Day Festival. “Interpreting Recent Norse Archaelogy. ” 1 - 9 pm. 6540 Thomas St. More info: scancentre.org/leif-erikson-day-2023

Saturday 21 October

Gimli, MB: Walk to the Rock. 12 noon. Meet at the Gimli Waterfront Centre.
Our annual walk from Gimli to Willow Point.
We commemorate the date in 1875 of the arrival of the first Icelandic Pioneer Settlers in their New Iceland Colony.
Return to the New Iceland Heritage Museum for refreshments in the Lady of the Lake Theatre.

Gimli, MB: A Chocolate Affair. Johnson Hall , Waterfront Centre, 6 pm Cocktails; 7 pm Supper. Tickets $80.00 ($50.00 tax receipt from the New Iceland Heritage Museum). Come and join us a fun dinner and evening featuring Doreen Pendgracs, "The Chocolate Queen." Doreen will lead us through an evening of chocolate deliciousness. Doreen will include some interesting facts about the world of chocolate and cacao, we’ll have several courses during the dinner that will feature chocolate or cocoa in various ways, and we’ll end the evening with a chocolate quiz that will win one lucky attendee an incredible chocolate gift basket.

Sunday 22 October 

Winnipeg, MB: The Winnipeg Jazz Orchesta’s first concert of the season Trombone and Other Delights featuring Audrey Ochoa, 2 pm. West End Cultural Centre. To purchase tickets or donate and support the WJO, please visit.winnipegjazzorchestra.com or call 204-632-5299. Check the website for the 2023/2034 season concerts.

Saturday 28 October

Burnaby, BC: The Icelandic Canadian Club of BC’s Fall Work Party. 9 am - 2 pm. Rain or shine. Work inside or outside to keep the Centre beautiful. Meet new people and support Iceland House. Breakfast at 8:30 am (sharp). Lunch at 12 noon. Let the Scan Centre office know if you are coming and if you are joining us for a meal This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Sunday 5 November

Toronto, ON: Pönnukökur Social at 2 pm. Do you want to learn how to make the perfect pönnukökur? Or join us to taste-test the final product? Whatever your choice, come for coffee and a social gathering to learn how to make one of our favourite Icelandic desserts. Enjoy freshly cooked pönnukökurs down up in your favourite way with lemon and sugar or filled with whipped cream. The location is in the Beaches Toronto. Register online to receive the exact address. See you there.

Friday 10 November

Burnaby, BC: The Icelandic Canadian Club of BC. Something NEW! Iceland House Social and Mixer. 

Wednesday 22 November

Gimli, MB: 80th Anniversary of the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society, Lady of the Lake Theatre, 7 pm.

Sunday 3 December

Burnaby, BC: Scandinavian Community Centre’s Annual Bake Sale and Children’s Christmas Party. Details to come. 6540 Thomas St. Check the Scandinavian Community Centre website for other Scandinavian activities.scancentre.org/events-calendar 

Saturday 24 February

Chicago, IL: The Icelandic Association of Chicago – Save the date for þorrablót 2024! At the Swedish American Museum, Andersonville, Chicago. Time to dust off the dance shoes, work up appetite for sheep heads and rotten shark, practice Icelandic pronunciation, and warm up the vocal cords. Skál - the Þorra Committee.

FILM

Victoria, BC: Icelandic Films at Cinecenta. Cinecenta is in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria. 3800 Finnerty Rd.

18 Oct: 5 and 7pm. Woman At War.

15 Oct: 5 and 7:15 pm. A White, White Day. 

1Nov: 5 and 7pm. Rams.

ICELANDIC LANGUAGE CLASSES

Tuesdays starting 19 September

Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian Frón is offering Icelandic Classes at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St. for 10 weeks.  Pre-register for planning purposes. Application forms can be found through https://icfron.ca. $55 for Icelandic Canadian Frón members and $65 for non-members. For those without texts it is $70 for a one time payment. Contact: Karen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Online: ICCT (The Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto) – online Icelandic language classes starting soon. Checkww.icct.info

The Icelandic Canadian Club of BC Fall Icelandic Classes: Dates and details to be announced. Watch for them.

LITERATURE

Beck Lectures 2023

Victoria, BC: University of Victoria, Clearihue A207. During the fall of 2023, we will once again be hosting a visiting professor from the University of Iceland. Dr. Hólmfríður Garðarsdóttir will be teaching a course on the depiction of women in Scandinavian Literature with a special focus on Icelandic writers and will also be providing three public lectures as part of the Richard and Margaret Beck Lecture Series on Icelandic Literature. 

Sunday 8 Oct: 2 pm. Icelandic Heritage in North America: A Celebration of Cultural Inheritance. Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, University of Iceland, and Úlfar Bragason, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies.

Sunday 22 Oct: 2 pm. Women Leading the Way: Climate Challenges as Represented in Recent Films. Hólmfríður Garðarsdóttir, University of Iceland, and Unnur Birna Karlsdóttir, University of Iceland. 

Sunday 22 Nov: 2 pm. Recurrent Themes in Today's Icelandic Literature by Women. Hólmfríður Garðarsdóttir, University of Iceland, and Soffía Auður Birgisdóttir, University of Iceland.