Impact:
Contribution and Collaboration
Did you know? Manitoba has the largest concentration of
Icelanders outside of Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik?
From the beginning, the Argyle Icelandic Community, though self
sufficient and self-sustaining, avoided being isolationist in any
sense. They actively sought to also be part of the larger Argyle
community. This manifested itself in many ways.
The impact of the Icelandic community is most convincingly expressed by
the fact the name of the municipality’s central community ended up with
an Icelandic name.
Naming the Town
In honor of the occasion one of the arrival of the railway and the
creation of a town, a railway official, Mr. Lehorn sugges¬ted the town
be named Chesterville, after Mr. Jesse Chester. Sigutrder
Christopherson, father of the Icelandic pioneers, wished to name the
town after a pretty flower but could not rind a pretty flower growing
in the district with a suitable name so he suggested the name of a
beautiful Nordic god, supposed to be beautiful, the pure radiant god of
innocence and summer sun, namely "Baldur".
Baldur was the son of Odin the supreme God and Creator), (the son of
Grigga goddess of married love and of the hearth).
After many arguments a decision made by vote this name was adopted for
the town which was about to become the leading centre of a ra¬pidly
growing community.
By 1890, many of the cultural initiatives begun in the Icelandic
communities of Grund and Bru had also had an effect on the wider
community. The influence was noted by the Baldur Gazette in its 1899
Special Historical Edition:
GRUND SETTLEMENT.
The country north Baldur is settled chiefly with people from Iceland. A
people who by reason of their intelligence, their industry and their
thrift, have prospered exceedingly in the land of their adoption. They
have more over adapted themselves to the political and social
conditions of the country so readily that they are now in all respects
Canadians. Many of them occupy positions of trust and
responsibility. For example in this district, Christian
Johnson who was for two years reeve and one of the present councillors,
S. Arason, are both natives of Iceland. Many other instances might be
given in proof of the statement that the Icelandic people are the
equals of any other, no matter what their nationality, in ability and
enterprise.
The Business Community
The Icelandic Immigration Agent, Sigurder Christopherson who was
instrumental in the development of the Icleandic Settlement built an
office in the new town as soon as it was established, connecting his
community with the larger Argyle entity. Others followed,
bringing their talents and entrepreneurial spirit, and taking advantage
of the opportunities for commerce that Baldur presented.
In 1899 the Baldur Gazette list of Baldur business included: “Christian
Johnson, dealer in agricultural im¬plements, sewing
machines; A. Helgason, bookbinder and account bookmaker,
and Miss Dora Snydal, dressmaker etc.
Christian & Arnbjorg Johnson
Builders
Builders, like Arni Sveinsson supervised the construction of Baldur’s
Lutheran Church. Bjorn Bjornson, a fine carpenter who built many homes
and barns in the Icelandic district was one of the carpenters of the
Baldur School in 1905
St. Immanuel Lutheran Church
Arni Sveinson – Head Carpenter
Health Care
Karolina Snydal was born in Iceland, came to New Iceland in 1876 and
homesteaded in 1882. When her husband Eyolfur passed away in 1898
Karolina became a midwife and practiced for over 50 years. She moved
from the farm to Baldur in 1899. She delivered her last baby at the age
of 75.
The Arts
Sigurbjorn Jonannsson, father of Jakobina, Sigurveig and Egill.
Sigurbjorn was a poet of some note both in Iceland and in Canada. He
was Community Skaid (“poet laureate”) in the Icelandic Community in the
District of Argyle, where he wrote poems for various special occasions.
A book of his poetry was published by his friends in 1902. He died in
1903.
Icelandic Literary Society
"bokmentafelag islendinga i argyle"
("Acquistion ofknowledge through books" club)
The first Icelandic settlers in Argyle Municipality formed a
Literary Society known as “Bokmentafelag Islands", which although
short-lived , did establish the concept. In 1893 a new
organization was established, using the few books left by the original
club, to start the new library which they later named "Lestrafelag
Islendinga i Argyle".
The following was taken from the April 25, 1901, Baldur Gazette and
explains fully the aims of the club:
"Island Society"
“ The object of its promoters was a most worthy one - the supplying of
literature to those who might not otherwise be in a position to procure
it, and thus tend to educate and elevate all, by the perusal of the
highest classes of literature. From its commencement, the society has
met with marked success and in 1896, they built what is commonly known
as the Grund Hall, in Icelandic, 'Skjalbreid'. Other help was of course
given the society, though today they own the largest share of the
building in which their library is kept. The library is open every
Saturday from November 1, until the last of April, from 12 to 4
o'clock, for the changing and procuring of books. In regard to the
method of pur- chasing and choosing books for their library, a
committee is appointed that only wholesome and healthy reading may be
procured. The whole list is made up chiefly of works of standard
authors and dramatic works - Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and
English, a goodly sprinkling of the latter being noticeable, such as
Scott, Drummond, Haggard, Bunyan, and Shakespeare and others.
The society had about 400 volumes and from 40 to 60 members.
In 1907 they decided to form a Baldur Branch of the club, to be called
"Lestrafelag id Island". Half of the books from Skjalbreid (119) were
brought into Baldur and kept at a private home until 1911 when the
Literary Society bought a building to be used as a library. The library
spent its final years on the Lutheran church grounds.
In 1968, the remaining books were sold or donated to the University of
Manitoba as well as the University of Victoria, B.C.
The focus on literacy that is common to all Canadian Icelandic
communities can be traced to the creation of The Icelandic Literature
Society in Iceland in 1816. Iceland had long been a colony of Denmark
and scholars were concerned about loss of language and tradition.
Throughout the nineteenth century there was a growing independence
movement and preservation of language and customs became a priority.
Beyond our Borders
Icelandic Suffrage Societies
The Icelandic Suffrage Societies were the first groups organized solely
to promote suffrage in Western Canada.
The Icelandic community in Manitoba was therefore a strong voice for
the recognition of women’s right to the franchise. Women’s Societies
and Ladies’ Aid groups played a leading role in Icelandic community
activities.
In 1890, at a meeting in the Argyle settlement, three speakers argued
for the extension of the franchise, and the entire audience joined in
the debate that followed.
The outstanding instrument in the suffrage campaign was the
Icelandic-language monthly, Freyja, meaning “Woman,” published between
1898 and 1910 by Sigfus and Margret Benedictsson.
In 1908, Margret Benedictsson founded the Icelandic Suffrage
Association in Winnipeg,
hailed by Freyja as the first in America, and affiliated it with both
the Canada Suffrage Association and the International Woman Suffrage
Alliance.
Also by 1908, an Icelandic suffrage group called “Sigurvon,” or “Hope
of Victory,” (also referred to as “The White Band”) was functioning in
Argyle, and several other Icelandic communities followed suit.
A number of suffrage petitions were subsequently presented to the
Manitoba legislature, “praying for the passing of an act to enfranchise
all women, whether married, widowed or spinster, on the same basis as
men.”
Sigvaldason, John
John Sigvaldason was born in 1904, in Baldur. After a career in
education, he joined the R.C.A.F. in 1942, and the
Department of External Affairs in 1946. He was an assistant secretary
in the office of the High Commissioner in London, England and in 1960
he was appointed Ambassador to Indonesia, then Ambassador to
Norway in 1964. Mr. Sigvaldason retired from the diplomatic services in
1969 and taught Political Science for two years at the Brandon
University following his retirement.
Tom Johnson
Tom was born in 1928 in Baldur.
He was signed by the Montreal Canadians in 1950. Won the Norris Trophy
in 1959 and joined the Boston Bruins 1963.
The Modern Era
Baldursbra Icelandic Canadian Club
A visitor to Baldur in the year 2017 will soon be aware that the
region’s Icelandic heritage is still evident and that the people are
still proud of their traditions.
In 1974, the Baldursbra Icelandic Canadian Club was organized. Its
purpose was to carry on affairs of the Icelandic Canadian Club of
western Manitoba at a local level.
As “Come into our Heritage” reported:
“The Icelandic festival in 1974, sponsored by the club, was the largest
ethnic activity ever held in this municipality. Sena Gunnlaugson
directed a small choir of children singing Icelandic songs. Their
singing was recorded in the Lutheran Church at Grund. At the church
service the Rev. Al Pope was the minister and the Rev. P.M. Peturson of
Winnipeg led the liturgy in Icelandic. Mr. Ami Sveinson, the faithful
and dedicated organist in the Lutheran Church for 50 years, was the
organist for this event. The Festival of Baldur records which were made
at this event were very enthusiastically received."
In 1978, the club sponsored the film 'They shouldn't call Iceland,
Iceland', and also had the very talented Martin children of Brandon
perform in the Lutheran Church.
The group has been responsible for looking after visitors from Iceland;
feeding and entertaining them; and conducting bus tours through the
municipality for them. The club has arranged bus trips to
'Icelandingadagurinn' in Gimli and to Brandon to hear the Icelandic
Karlakor; donated books of Icelandic interest to the local school
library; made donations to the local band; and also had the Icelandic
Folk Dancers from Iceland come to entertain the community.
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