Born at Baki, Iceland, this publisher and entrepreneur became a prominent leader in the Canadian Icelandic community. As immigrant agent he brought from Iceland more than a thousand people driven from their homeland by a volcanic eruption. They settled in 1876 on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg. Homesteading near Riverton, he was instrumental in establishing the unique laws and constitution of the Republic of New Iceland. This monument in Gimli, by the Gimli Dance Pavilion, was erected by the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba.
Sigtryggur Jonasson Memorial Plaque (September 2010)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.63886, W96.99054
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Riverton Centennial Park (Riverton, Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Gimli Icelandic Settlement Plaque (Gimli, RM of Gimli)
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 28 January 2021
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