Sir William Stephenson CC MC, DFC

Photo courtesy of The Intrepid Society, Winnipeg

1897-1989

WW1 Flying Ace, Inventor, ‘Intrepid’

Port Douglas, Winnipeg, Manitoba       

William Samuel Stephenson was born on January 23rd, 1897, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His birth mother was Guðfinna Jónsdóttir whose name was angelized to Sarah Johnston. Guðfinna was born in the county of Húnavatnssýsla which is in the north of Iceland. She emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba where she met and married William Hunter Stanger, who was a Scotsman from the Orkney Islands. When Guðfinna’s husband suddenly died in 1901, she was unable to care for her three children, and another Icelandic-Canadian family took over the care of little William. This was not an uncommon practice at the time, when extended families and communities stepped in to help each other. There was no government social support, and it would have been very difficult for a woman on her own to care for children. William’s adoptive parents, Vigfús Stefánsson and Kristín Guðlaugsdóttir, both emigrated from Iceland’s western region of Snæfellsnessýsla. They adopted the anglicized name of Stephenson and lived in Port Douglas, Winnipeg near the Red River, which is where William grew up. 

According to the historical notes collected by The Intrepid Society, William was fondly remembered by his elementary teacher as both a bookworm and a boxer. Despite his small stature, he never hesitated to stand up for himself, demonstrating a spirit of resilience and determination. His quick wits and photographic memory further distinguished him from his peers, making him a standout student in the classroom and beyond. When he was a young boy delivering newspapers door to door, he spotted the infamous criminal, ‘Bloody Jack Krofchenko’ and alerted the police. When the First World War broke out, Stephenson stepped forward to volunteer even though he was underage, but the medical officer deemed him “too small to be a soldier’ at five foot two inches tall with a 32-inch expanded girth… and signed him in as the company bugler”. However, when shipped over to England, Stephenson was sent to the Western Front where he was invalided out following a gas attack less than a week later. When he recovered, he was sent to train as a pilot with the Cadet Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Stephenson also distinguished himself amongst his colleagues soon after he was posted to France, when he entered a boxing tournament at the Inter Allied Games at Amiens and became the featherweight champion. He met the famous American heavyweight boxer, Gene Tunney, at the tournament who said he was ‘…quick as a dash of lightning. He was a fast, clever featherweight … [and] a fearless and quick thinker.’

Stephenson distinguished himself in several ways during the first World War. He flew a Sopwith Camel biplane fighter for the 73rd Squadron and scored 12 victories against enemy aircraft to become a ‘flying ace’. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Military Cross. When his plane crashed behind enemy lines, he was held as a prisoner of war by the Germans.  He escaped and made his way back to England. When he was debriefed by his superiors, he was able to provide so much detailed strategic information from his observations which was passed up to higher command and landed on Churchill’s desk, Churchill allegedly said ‘don’t send that man back in the air, bring him to me.’ This was the beginning of a life-long friendship and collaboration. 

During the interwar period, Stephenson briefly returned to Winnipeg and started a business but eventually went back to England. He is accredited with inventing and patenting a wireless method for transmitting photographs. In a short time, he became a very wealthy industrialist with business contacts in many countries.  On July 22,1924, Stephenson married the wealthy American tobacco heiress Mary French Simmons. Stephenson’s friendship with Churchill continued and during the later 1920s and into the 1930s. As they watched events in Germany, they shared a concern for the disturbing political trends and rise in popularity of the National Socialist Party. Stephenson began to use his own personal wealth and social network to gather information on prominent figures in the Nazi party and the rearmament in Germany. Stephenson recruited famous actors and writers to surreptitiously gather information. It was during the 1930s that Stephenson established the Business Industrial Secret Service (BISS). 

When Churchill became Prime Minister, he appointed Stephenson Director of British Security Co-ordination (BSC). In this position, Stevenson was instrumental in setting up counter-espionage operations for the Allied forces. In 1940, Churchill sent Stevenson to New York City to coordinate operations with the Americans. He worked closely with ‘Wild Bill’ Donavan, who was recruited by Roosevelt to set up America’s first national intelligence service, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the CIA. Churchill vested Stephenson as his personal representative to President Roosevelt. The Los Angeles wrote in 1989 that ‘Stephenson has come to be viewed as the single most important link between future British Prime Minister Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the years before Pearl Harbor forced a still-vacillating America into war.               

Stephenson’s breadth of operations was extensive. Part of his mandate was to counter Nazi propaganda and to bring America into the war on the side of Britain. Stephenson understood his mission was to create a secret intelligence network across the Western Hemisphere which integrated the British undercover operations of MI5, MI6 and SOE (Special Operations Executive) with American missions. For SOE, Stephenson set up the famous ‘Camp X’ in Whitby, Ontario Canada which was a secret training facility where spies and operatives were trained in espionage, sabotage and covert operations. This training was critical for agents, who operated behind the German line throughout Europe and did much to destabilize the control of Nazis in occupied territories. When you read about Stevenson in the second World War, it seems as if he had his finger on the pulse of all espionage operations.

When reading about Stephenson and the Second World War, it seems as if he had his hand in so many of the covert operations in the war against Nazism. His uncompromising determination to end Nazism lay behind so many espionage operations, and maybe there is more than we will ever know, as so much of his life was veiled in secrecy. His energy, magnetism, implacable spirit led Churchill to give him the code name Intrepid. His commitment to end the tyranny of Nazism sprung from his idealism and deep commitment to Western democracy. Stephensen never took a salary for any of the work he did.  It is said Stephenson is the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s fictional character, James Bond. Famously when asked about this, Fleming said, “James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing is …William Stephenson.” Fleming described Stephenson as ‘… a true hero whose real-life activities were much more impactful than any fictional character.’

King George VI bestowed a knighthood on Stephenson in the 1945 New Year’s Honours for his extraordinary service to the war effort. In 1946, the President Truman awarded him the Presidential Medal of Merit in recognition of his “valuable assistance to America in the fields of intelligence and special operations.” He was the first non-American to receive this award. Over the years Stephenson has received numerous military awards and honours, including honorary degrees from the University of Winnipeg in 1979 and the University of Manitoba in 1980. In his later years, the United States also presented Stephenson with the William Donovan Award for his unique contributions to freedom. Canada honoured Stephenson with its highest honour in 1984, the Companion of the Order of Canada. The following year, he received the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo, which was Manitoba’s highest award at that time.  

Sir William Stevenson leaves an incredible legacy, and the INLNA is proud to honour him in our 2026 INLNA calendar, ‘Influencers’. The INLNA wishes to thank the Intrepid Society of Winnipeg for sharing their photos and information with us. You can read more about Sir William on their website at https://intrepid-society.org/

Recent YouTube Videos: 

• Past presidents of the Intrepid Society, Winnipeg Manitoba, Alan Parkin and Dwight MacAulay doing an interview on the CTV morning show: https://youtu.be/v_IhYHyiUZY?si=oGzOjyujRNiIFok0 

• Link to the Historical Canada video link on YouTube link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WkZOX9LY5k

Here are some books where you can read more about this incredible man and his legacy.

• A Man Called Intrepid: The Incredible WWII Narrative of the Hero Whose Spy Network and Secret Diplomacy Changed the Course of History (1976) William Stevenson 

• Intrepid’s Last Case (1983) William Stevenson; Audiobook Narrated by Nigel Patterson

• The True Intrepid: Sir William Stephenson and the Unknown Agents (1998) by Bill Macdonald.  See the associated website at https://www.trueintrepid.com/the-true-intrepid

• Intrepid’s Last Secrets: Then and Now: History, Spies and Lies. (2019) Bill Macdonald. 

• The Quiet Canadian: Life of Sir William Stephenson (1989). H. Montgomery Hyde

References:

• The Intrepid Society

• Intrepid book

• Silverhawkauthor.com

• https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-03-mn-1806-story.html

• Foreword to H. Montgomery Hyde’s Room 3603

Vilhjalmur Stefansson

Photo courtesy of The Stefansson Collection of Arctic Photographs, Dartmouth University Archives

Photo courtesy of The Stefansson Collection of Arctic Photographs, Dartmouth University Archives

November 3, 1879 - August 26, 1962

Born in Arnes, Manitoba, before moving to the United States as a child.

Arctic Explorer, Anthropologist, Author, Harvard Instructor, “The Last Dogsled Explorer”

Frank Fredrickson

Photo courtesy of The BC Sports Hall of Fame

June 11, 1895 - May 28, 1979. Hockey Player, Pilot, Coach, friend of Albert Einstein. Captain of Winnipeg Falcons who won the Olympic Gold Medal, played for Boston Bruins and more. Hockey Hall of Fame 1958.

Sturla Gunnarsson

August 30, 1951. Film & television Producer/Director. Moved to Canada as a 7-year-old. Distinctions include Emmy and Genie awards, Academy Award nomination, and People’s Choice Documentary Award. Past President of National Directors Guild of Canada

Signy Hildur Eaton

Photo courtesy of The University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The Winnipeg Tribune Fonds.

1913 - 1992

Philanthropist, Arts Patron and Icelandic Cultural Preservationist       

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Signy Hildur Eaton (née Stephenson) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July 1st, 1913. Her father, Fredrik Stephenson, had arrived to Nýja Ísland with his mother in 1876, when a large group of Icelandic emigrants settled near Gimli, New Iceland.  Her mother Anna (Guðmundsdóttir) Olson was born a year later, as the community was emerging from the tragedy of a severe smallpox epidemic. At the age of 15, Fredrik moved to Winnipeg to take a position with the Icelandic-weekly Lögberg, eventually becoming its manager. Signy grew up speaking Icelandic in the home, and with a deep appreciation of her Icelandic heritage. When Signy was crowned Fjallkona at the 1967 Centennial Islendingadagurrin, she delivered her greetings in Icelandic.  She spoke to the significance of the Icelandic language to the preservation of Icelandic culture and literary heritage – a language first spoken in North America nearly a thousand years ago. According to biographer W.J. Lindal, “Signy has been at all times deeply conscious of the heritage of language and literature, of character, courage and sense of true values which the immigrants from Iceland brought with them to Canada.” Signy and her husband, John David Eaton, made a substantial contribution to the Trust Fund to endow a permanent chair in Icelandic language and literature at the University of Manitoba.

Signy had met John David Eaton while she was a student at the University of Manitoba and he was living in Winnipeg, working at one of his grandfather’s famous department chain stores. At the Portage Avenue store. The Eaton’s were a prominent family in Toronto, Canada, with department stores stretching across the breadth of the country. Many of us ‘older folk’ will remember the excitement of the Eaton Mail Order Catalogue arriving in the fall, or the magic of visiting a signature Eaton store with its whimsical Christmas window displays. Signy and John David were married on August 9th, 1933, in Ontario, at the family home on Lake Rosseau. According to Wikipedia, Signy wore a ‘Viking headdress’ and Icelandic songs were sung. The Eaton’s had both the Union Jack and the Icelandic flag flying at the event.  The couple had four children: John, Fredrik, Thor and George.

After their marriage, Signy and John David settled in Toronto, where they quickly became a prominent figure in the city's social and cultural circles. Signy embraced her new role in the Eaton family, balancing her responsibilities as a mother with her growing interest in philanthropy and the arts. She was actively involved in numerous organizations, supporting causes related to education, health, the arts a well as charitable funding of projects in New Iceland and Iceland. Signy preferred to keep much of her philanthropic donations private, especially those to Iceland, but her efforts were not unnoticed, and Signy was awarded Knight of the Order of the Falcon, Iceland’s highest honour, in 1959. 

Signy Eaton was a founder member of the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1919. Renamed the Art Gallery of Ontario in 1966, the AGO has a special Signy Eaton Gallery. Signy was instrumental in securing the prestigious Henry Moore collection for the AGO.  According to Logberg-Heimskringla, Signy and architect John Parkin “…flew to Britian where they persuaded sculptor Henry Moore to donate his enormous collection to the Art Gallery of Ontario.” John Parkin designed the Henry Moore exhibition room Signy served as a board member on the AGO and played a crucial role in the gallery's expansion and collection development. Her contributions helped shape the AGO into a world-class institution it is today.

Signy and her husband’s interest in the arts was broad and diverse. They had an extensive private art collection included 19th century and contemporary paintings and pieces of sculpture. It included works by Pablo Picasso, Maurice Utrillo, Raoul Dufy, Marc Hagall and Jean-Paul Riopelle. Signy also had an interest in ancient arts and gathered a valuable collection of Chinese art and jade. Their donations to galleries and museums, including the AGO and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, greatly enriched public collections and made art more accessible to all Canadians.

Art in all its forms captured Signy’s imagination. Signy was a member of the Women’s Committee of the Symphony Orchestra of Toronto, a member of the Opera Committee and a member of the Ballet. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, Signy was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1977. Her support extended beyond financial assistance; she was known for encouraging emerging artists and fostering a vibrant artistic community. 

Signy Eaton was also renowned for her extensive charitable work. She was actively involved in numerous organizations, supporting causes related to education, health, and social welfare.  She was particularly engaged with the Hospital for Sick Children and the Children’s Aid Society. Lindal comments that, “[her]…many monetary philanthropies must be left to the imagination of the reader as she refuses to disclose them.” We do know of her generous donations to the Trust Fund for the permanent chair in Icelandic Language and Literature at the University of Manitoba, mentioned earlier, and of her generous donations to the Betel Home for the Aged in Gimli, Manitoba where her mother was born. Signy was appointed to the Board of Governors of York University when it opened in 1961 and held the position of Chairman of its Advisory Committee on Art. Signy received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from York University in 1971. 

Influencer in Canadian Art and Philanthropy and Icelandic Heritage

Signy Eaton's legacy is visible in many spheres of Canadian life. Her philanthropy and advocacy for the arts have left a lasting mark on cultural institutions and the broader community. We remember her also for her commitment to championing the preservation of the Icelandic language and culture in North America, fostering pride in our Icelandic heritage and strengthening the bond with Iceland. 

Today, Signy’s name is associated with several endowments, scholarships, and charitable initiatives that continue to benefit Canadians in so many ways, and to celebrate her lifelong dedication to public service and the arts. Through her philanthropic vision and unwavering support for the arts and community development, Signy Hildur (Stephenson) Eaton helped shape the cultural and social landscape of 20th-century Canada. Her life remains an inspiring example of generosity, cultural stewardship, and national pride.

References:

• Signy Eaton – A Nati on Builder. W.J. Lindal. The Icelandic Canadian, Autumn 1959. https://timarit.is/page/8125763#page/n19/mode/2up

• Greeting from the Mother of the Mountain by Mrs John David (Signy) Eaton. Gimli, Manitoba, July 31, 1967, in translation by J.G Johannsson. https://timarit.is/page/8128027iabr=on#page/n19/mode/2up/search/Signy%20Eaton

• Ibid. Lindal. The Icelandic Canadian Autumn 1959, page 20. https://timarit.is/page/8125763#page/n19/mode/2up

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signy_Stefansson_Eaton

• Order of the Falcon described https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Falcon Source Signy’s award, Lindal, ibid. p.20

• Art Gallery of Ontario. See https://ago.ca/node/95 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Gallery_of_Ontario

• Eaton’s matriarch wielded power, aided arts. Obituary: Signy Eaton. Lögberg Heimskringla Issuer 32 (18.09.1992). https://timarit.is/page/2238918?iabr=on#page/n0/mode/2up/search/Signy%20Eaton See also the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Henry Moore Sculpture Centre https://ago.ca/collection/henry-moore-sculpture-centre

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signy_Stefansson_Eaton

• https://www.rom.on.ca/people/eaton-family

• https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/256148/john-david-eaton-congratulates-his-wife-after-she-received-h?ctx=31bfb0fb9d199c9c72abf04b3a99f32c701acf62&idx=4

Bjarni Tryggvason

Photo courtesy of Nina Jobin

September 21, 1945 - April 5, 2022. Icelandic-born Canadian Engineer, meteorologist & NRC/CSA Astronaut, part of the Space Shuttle mission in 1997.

Awarded the Nasa Space Flight Medal & Order of the Falcon.

Laura Goodman Salverson

1890-1970

Pioneering Figure in Canadian Literature                  

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Photos courtesy of Professor Julie Salverson

Laura Goodman Salverson was born Laura Gudmundsson in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 9th, 1890.  Her parents were Icelandic immigrants, Lárus Guðmundsson and Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir. It has been recorded that throughout her youth, her parents explored western North America, from Manitoba to Minnesota and the Mississippi, with their young daughter in tow; Laura spoke only Icelandic until the age of ten. These explorations with her parents helped steep L aura in her family’s Icelandic heritage and the history of this ancient and proud culture. In 1913, Laura married George Salverson, a railway man.

Laura first began to write in order to supplement the family income which led into a prolific writing career. Laura Salverson’s writings were meant to supplement the family’s income. In the writing she produced in the first part of her career, she focused on the trials and adversities of the immigrant experience, particularly in Western Canada. She lamented the loss of culture of immigrant communities in the North American melting pot of the time, and she was highly critical of the “American Dream.” Additionally, Salverson was a staunch pacifist and outspoken against World War I.

Laura was an active member of the Canadian Author's Association and the Paris Institute of Arts and Sciences, which awarded her a gold medal for literary merit in 1938. She was founder and first editor of the Icelandic Canadian (later called Icelandic Connection). Laura wrote many articles for the publication. Laura Goodman Salverson was the first person to win two Governor General's Awards, first in 1937 for The Dark Weaver (fiction) and again in 1939 for her memoir Confessions of an Immigrant's Daughter(non-fiction). 

Karen Gummo, storyteller, artist and writer, has been studying Salverson’s remarkable life for many years, and incorporates her knowledge and insights into performance material. In May 2023, Karen Gummo made a presentation at the Icelandic National League of North America Convention in Banff entitled “Torment & Triumph in the Nineteen Twenties: Laura Goodman Salverson and Winnifred Eaton Reeve – Gifted Immigrant Writer”. Karen created a lovely artistic theatrical presentation-one-woman-show about Laura Goodman Salverson while putting together the layers of a Vinarterta.

Karen wrote the following article for the Lögberg-Heimskringla newspaper and generously gave the INLNA permission to reprint the article here.

How do I love thee Laura Salverson?  Let me count the ways

Article by Karen Gummo Republished with Permission

When I explore historical characters, I often fall in love with them, and my work with Laura Goodman Salverson is no exception.  Who is she and how did I come to cherish her?  You may remember from my article in last spring’s Logberg Heimskringla that I was first introduced to this early Icelandic Canadian writer 17 years ago by an acquaintance who had just moved into the southwest Calgary Bankview house where Laura (or “LG” as most people came to know her) and her “two Georges” (husband and young son) had made their home after moving from Edmonton and points east in the fall of 1923.  (Owing to her husband George’s career with the Grand Trunk Railroad, moves were a frequent occurrence and the family only lived in Calgary for a total of five or six years).

The house, at 2111 14A Street SW, was only 11 years old then and the views of the “dun-coloured hills on the northern horizon” were not obscured by trees. The Salversons were living at the very edge of town in an area subdivided by rancher and entrepreneur William Nimmons as part of the explosive growth Calgary experienced after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1883.   

I was fortunate to tour through the house and borrow several of Laura’s historic novels that the owner had found at second–hand bookstores.  Through them I began the process of getting to know Laura Salverson, the woman that I would be called upon to portray in first person.  To date I have studied four of her eleven published novels: “The Viking Heart” (1923), “When Sparrows Fall” (1925), “Lord of the Silver Dragon” (1927), “Immortal Rock; The Saga of the Kensington Stone” (1954), along with her autobiography “Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter” (1939), a few of her short stories published in magazines and newspapers, and finally her volume of poetry “Wayside Gleams” (1925).

In her autobiography (republished this July by McGill-Queens University Press), Laura describes how she was driven to use her literary skills to honour her ancestors and never to bring shame upon them.  She dared to write in English, which may have disappointed some in her community, but she wished to lift up the ordinary lives of the lowly Icelandic immigrant so that through her storytelling, their trials and successes would not be forgotten.  She was intent on portraying the particular challenges facing women of her day and did so in powerful fashion.  There are also intense scenes of family abuse and triumphs over alienation and community ridicule included in her prairie novels.  In her 1927 novel “Lord of the Silver Dragon”, she was inspired by accounts from the pages of the ancient sagas of Greenlanders to creatively portray the tales of legendary Icelandic explorers such as Leif Eriksson and his Hebridean lover Lady Thorgunna as found in the Flatey Jarbok.  This book, originally written on vellum around 1387, was carefully stowed with the most valued possessions of many of the Icelandic emigrants who saw themselves as continuing the quest for the promised Vinland that Leif Eriksson had so boldly begun.

Through my membership in Icelandic Roots, I made a connection with Laura Salverson’s niece, Jo Peterson.  Jo has supplied me with bits of family treasure key to my understanding of her aunt Laura’s story.  Among the helpful nuggets she has shared is a memoir written by Laura’s husband George Sr. one year after Laura died in 1970.  This memoir contains key details of events that occurred in Calgary at the time 100 years ago when her first novel “The Viking Heart” was first available for purchase in the front window display of Calgary mayor, writer and entrepreneur F.E. Osborne’s downtown bookstore on 8th Avenue S.W.  

George and Laura Salverson had a rather extraordinary relationship.  In addition to his own career with the railway, he was a key supporter of her creative writing, typed most of her early manuscripts, humbly delivered her to receive her awards and often represented her interests on various literary boards.  

Laura’s only granddaughter, Julie Salverson, teaches drama at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.  Professor Salverson is currently finalizing a book about her own father, George Salverson Jr., who carried on his mother’s legacy by becoming a high ranking and prolific current events and drama writer for CBC for over forty years (including for well-known series such as “The Beachcombers”).  Julie has shared with me some of her own reflections of her grandmother and sent me recordings of interviews with her father where he too pays tribute to his mother LG.  

At the Icelandic National League Convention of North America held at the Banff Centre this May, I presented to an appreciative audience the monologue performance that I call “Torment and Triumph, Laura Goodman Salverson and Winnifred Eaton Reeve, Two Immigrant Daughters”.  (Reeve was already an accomplished author and prominent member of the local Calgary literary community when Laura and her family arrived in 1923.  She was jealous of the attention Laura’s first novel The Viking Heart received both locally and internationally and made serious malicious accusations concerning Laura’s character.)  Among my listeners was “Vinarterta Lady” Arden Jackson, the daughter of a man who once boarded at Laura Salverson’s home in Regina and consequently developed a special bond.  I made other important connections during the Convention and have now been invited to perform this piece at the opening weekend of “Edda”, the new museum at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik that will house the repatriated sagas written in the 1200 and 1300s.  This is a dream come true for me.

During my performance I assemble the layers of a vinarterta cake as though I were Laura in her 1955 Winnipeg kitchen.  I don’t speak Icelandic fluently but I intersperse the layers of this story with verses from the Icelandic folksong A Sprengisandi - a fitting analogy to the drama of “Torment and Triumph” - for it describes the terror of a humble shepherd facing the dangers of venturing into territory where dwell the Outlaws, Trolls and the Elfin Queen herself.  Laura may at times have felt like a lowly writer in the face of such an accomplished author as Winnifred Eaton Reeve, yet I’ve concluded that Laura was a mighty woman in her own right.

This will be my second visit to Iceland; my cousins and various friends will be hosting me and touring me around the country during my visit.  Besides my museum performance, I will join a circle of Icelandic storytellers in a home in Reykjavik.  Professor Salverson, who has not previously been to Iceland, will meet me in Reykjavik near the end of my trip and see my show for the first time at the “Edda”.  Then she and I will travel north to Reykholt where her grandmother Ingibjorg lived, then to the Snaelfellsness peninsula to a farm called Ferru-cot where her great-grandfather’s (Laura’s) family was from.  Along the way Julie and I will make more connections to each other, to these stories and the people of Iceland to whom we are both related.  

I give great thanks to all who have encouraged me along the way and listened in the story circle as I prepared segments of this piece.  Calgary storyteller Mary Hays and I shared a performance during 2023’s Historic Calgary Week that highlighted the lives of LG and 1920’s Calgary activist Jean McWilliam in a piece called “Back Alley Secrets”.  Shaun Hunter and I have presented our collaborative research process at the Calgary Public Library.  I also offered excerpts of the tangle between Salverson and Reeve when I “popped up” as LG on Shaun’s walking tour of Calgary’s Beltline and Mt. Royal neighbourhoods during the Winnifred Eaton Reeve conference at the University of Calgary held this past July.  Perhaps I will have the chance to perform this piece in some of the other places where Laura lived - and beyond.  Every performance yields new connections and inspirations – while deepening my understanding of and admiration for Laura Goodman Salverson.  

Karen Gummo’s Favourite Poem by Laura Goodman Salverson

Asphodel Fields

(From "Wayside Gleams" by Laura Goodman Salverson)

Gray lie the fields and pale are the flowers.
Fragile and wraith-like and studded in dew.
Steel-gray the river encircling the bowers
Bearing the barges, deep purple in hue.
As clouds after sunset, deep tinted and solemn,
They glide o'er the river so gray and so chill;
Through fields of Remembrance
Where Life's tear has fallen,
Mid Asphodel flowers,
So pale and so still.
Thus hope the great pilot, and Love the good captain,
With patience eternal
Press on through the gloom;
Somewhere living waters from God's gleaming fountain
Refresh the glad hills where the white lilies bloom.

Laura Goodman Salverson: A Lasting Legacy as a Canadian Literary Influencer

Laura Goodman Salverson stands as a trailblazer in Canadian literature, whose contributions and groundbreaking achievements have often been overlooked despite her immense impact. The Canadian Book Review highlights Salverson’s legacy as not only a pioneer but also as an influencer whose work and recognition paved the way for future generations of Canadian writers, especially women.

Historic Achievements in Canadian Literature

• First Woman to Win the Governor-General’s Award for Fiction: In 1937, Laura Salverson made history by winning the Governor-General’s Award for Fiction for her novel The Dark Weaver. Notably, this was only the second year the prestigious award was presented, and Salverson became the first woman ever to receive it.

• First Woman to Win the Governor-General’s Award for Non-Fiction: Two years later, in 1939, Salverson achieved another milestone by winning the Governor-General’s Award for Non-Fiction for her memoir Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter. Once again, she was the first woman to receive this honour in the category.

• Dual Winner and Literary Company: Laura Salverson was the first individual to win two Governor-General’s Awards, a rare feat that places her among an elite group of Canadian writers. This select group includes literary icons such as Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler, and Hugh MacLennan, who have all garnered recognition in multiple categories.

• Enduring Presence in Canadian Literary Canon: Salverson’s debut novel, The Viking Heart, became a longstanding title in the influential New Canadian Library series (listed as number 116), ensuring her work reached and influenced generations of readers and writers alike.

Legacy and Influence

Laura Goodman Salverson’s accomplishments are not only significant for their historical firsts but also for the doors they opened for future Canadian authors. Her trailblazing wins demonstrated that women’s voices and stories were worthy of national recognition at the highest levels. Her literary output, marked by nuanced explorations of immigrant identity and the Canadian experience, continues to resonate today.

By earning top honours in both fiction and non-fiction categories, Salverson set a precedent for versatility and excellence in Canadian writing. Her inclusion in the company of celebrated writers like Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje underscores the enduring value of her contributions.

While Laura Goodman Salverson’s achievements may have been overlooked in mainstream narratives, her pioneering spirit and influential body of work remain foundational to Canadian literature. She serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the diverse voices that have shaped— and continue to shape—Canada’s literary landscape.

References:

• https://canadianbookreview.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/laura-salverson-an-overlooked-pioneer-of-canadian-literature/

• https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/scl/article/view/8024/9081

• Icelandic Connection https://icecanmag.com › icecon › issue › download

• The Dark Weaver: Against the sombre background of the old geneations flame the scarlet banners of the new (1937). https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20220858

• Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/P006125

• Arden Jackson’s article on her connection to Laura Goodman Salverson and showing a photo of her grandfather’s autographed copy of The Viking Heart. https://ardenjackson.com/as-you-like-it-connection-to-laura-goodman-salverson/

• https://canadianbookreview.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/laura-salverson-an-overlooked-pioneer-of-canadian-literature/

Donald K. Johnson

Photo courtesy of Donald K. Johnson

June 18, 1935, Lundar, MB. Investor, Philanthropist. Investment Industry Hall of Fame, Order of the Falcon, key in changing Canadian tax laws. Eye Institute at Western Hospital, Toronto. Past President of Burns Fry, sat as Vice-chair of BMO Nesbitt Burns. Officer of the Order of Canada.

Margret Benedictsson

Sculpted by Erin Brown

March 16, 1866 - December 13, 1956

Activist, Writer, Editor. From Iceland to Dakota, then to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

She is credited with helping to bring Women’s Suffrage to Manitoba in 1916.

Kaillie Humphries

Olympic Gold Medallist & Trailblazer in Women’s Elite Sports, Calgary, AB

Photo courtesy of Kaillie Humphries

Kaillie Sigmundson was born on September 4th, 1985, in Calgary and raised amidst the rugged landscapes and vibrant sporting culture of Alberta, Canada. Kaillie stands as one of the most influential figures in the world of women’s elite sports. Renowned for her historic achievements in bobsleigh and her unwavering commitment to breaking barriers, Humphries’ journey from the slopes of Calgary to Olympic podiums across continents embodies resilience, courage, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Her story is not just about medals and victories—it is about changing the face of sport for women everywhere.

Early Years:

At the tender age of 7 years, Kaillie proclaimed that she would win an Olympic gold medal one day. The Simundson’s were having Mark Tewksbury over for dinner and he had brought his recently won Gold medal he won in the 100-meter backstroke and let little Kaillie slip the striped ribbon around her neck. The family smiled at her that evening but by the time Kaillie was a teenager she was on the Canadian national development team training as a ski racer. However, at 15, Kaillie broke each of her legs in separate crashes, requiring months of painful rehabilitation. Refusing to be defined by setback, Humphries sought a new challenge—one that would combine her speed, strength, and competitive spirit. She heard Bobsleigh Canada was holding a try-out at the Olympic track not far from the Simundson home. Kaillie was familiar with the track through watching the movie, Cool Runnings’ and excitedly signed up for the try-out. She was successful and earned an invitation to begin training as a brakeman. A short four years later, Kaillie was one of the youngest bob sleigh athletes at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. She walked in the opening and closing ceremonies and supported her teammates on race days but was not chosen to participate. Determined never to be side-lined again, Kaillie turned that disappointment into determination to succeed.

Determination and Resilience:

Refusing to be defined by setback, Kaillie made the decision to train as the pilot on the bobsleigh – a key position not so easily substituted out in an important race.  For those not familiar, bobsleigh is a team sport in which crews of either two or four race down a narrow, twisting, banked ice track in a gravity powered sleigh, competing for the fastest times.  It was a sport traditionally dominated by men with limited opportunities for women, where resources and recognition lagged far behind those available to men. Within a record-setting short number of years, Humphries emerged as a leading pilot, forging strong partnerships and earning the respect of her peers. Her technical skill, strategic acumen, and leadership transformed her teams into podium contenders and set her on a streak of record-breaking wins at World’s and Olympic events. It seemed that every time someone said to Kaillie, ‘It’s never been done before; it’s not possible’ was met with a ‘Really, watch me!’.

Olympic Gold

Humphries’ Olympic record is nothing short of historic. After just six years of training, Kaillie Humphries struck gold in the two-woman bobsled event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Her victory established her as a leading athlete in the sport, coming out on top in the world and inspiring Canadians coast to coast.

She repeated her Olympic triumph at Sochi in 2014, again winning gold for Canada and making history as the first female bobsledder to defend an Olympic title. Her consecutive wins cemented her legacy and earned her the prestigious Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s Athlete of the Year.

After back-to-back Olympic gold medals, Kaillie’s commitment to advancing women’s participation in bobsleigh led her to campaign for inclusion in the four-man bobsleigh event. For two years, she advocated for women to be allowed to pilot four-man teams, arguing for equality and opportunity. In 2015, she made history as one of the first women to pilot a four-man bobsleigh team in a World Cup event. Meeting the same criteria as male participants—successful competitions on four terrains in two countries—Kaillie assembled a team, strategically leveraging her lighter weight to maximize her teammates’ options within the 650-pound sled limit. The team placed 15th, but the true victory was opening the door for co-ed competition. “It’s like being a pioneer,” Humphries shared in a CBC interview, capturing the significance of her achievement.

Kaillie’s success continued at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where she won bronze and set another record as the most decorated woman in Olympic bobsleigh history. Her consistent podium finishes have made her a role model for athletes worldwide.

In 2019, Kaillie married her partner, American bobsleigh gold medallist Travis Armbruster, and joined the American bobsleigh team. Her transition was marked by anticipation as she awaited U.S. citizenship before she could officially enter any competitions. On December 2, 2021, she became a U.S. citizen in San Diego, California. Just two days later, she won her first race as an American citizen at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup in Altenberg, Germany, demonstrating her adaptability and enduring talent.   Kaillie went on to claim three world titles: the two-woman championships in 2020 and 2021, and the inaugural women’s Monobob World title for the U.S. in 2021. Her versatility across events showcases her technical skill and competitive drive.  

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Kaillie won gold in the debut Monobob event, earning the title of First-Ever Monobob Queen for the USA. She set another record with the largest victory margin in Olympic bobsledding in 42 years.  

Another first - Kaillie Humphries holds a place in Olympic history as the first woman to win gold medals for two different countries, Canada and the United States.

Remarkably, Kaillie has stood on the podium over 70 times and has celebrated 34 World Cup victories.  She has four Olympic medals - three Gold and one Bronze, and five Gold Medals in World competitions. Kaillie is considered one the greats in bobsled.

Advocacy and Breaking Barriers:

Beyond her athletic prowess, Kaillie Humphries is an outspoken advocate for equality and inclusion in sport. She has campaigned tirelessly to open the four-man bobsleigh discipline to women, challenging institutional barriers and sparking important conversations about gender equity. Humphries was a pioneer in co-ed bobsleigh competitions, pushing for the right of women to compete alongside men and proving that skill and determination transcend gender. In her last years with Canadian Olympic team, Kaillie challenged the style of coaching women’s teams received which led to her switching allegiance to the USA, but not before she publicly, and at great personal cost, made her point. She said it was important for her, as a gold medallist, to speak out to increase awareness and to demand safe environments for women in sport. 

Family, Icelandic Roots and Tattoos:

Kaillie is known for her tattoos. She has 60% of her body tattooed. On Facebook, Kaillie posted, “My tattoos remind me of who I am, when I start to feel my identity getting blurred in the thick of life. They root me when I start to lose myself. They’re about memorializing something so important it needs to be engraved on my skin.” The number of tattoos featuring her family is a testament to how close they are and how pivotal her family has been in Kaillie’s development. As a teenager Kaillie was bullied at school often ‘ghosted’ and excluded from activities. At ski camp, she once found Jell-O in her sleeping bag and was made to ride the chairlift alone. Out of her experiences, and with her family’s support, Kaillie said she found an inner strength and courage she harnessed to reach her goals. Kaillie has also taken a public stand against bullying, doing public speaking for the anti-bullying campaign, ‘I’ve Been Bullied’ and the international organization Right to Play.

Tattoos became a meaningful way for Kaillie to carry her family with her when she began to travel widely for her competitions. In an interview with NBC, Kaillie explained, “I'm gone from my family a lot and they're my No. 1 biggest support so I like to take them with me, and this is a way that that will forever happen. All my tattoos — family, goals, dreams, hopes — are just kind of the story of my life, where I've been, and where I want to go, who I am and how I got there.” Kaillie has a tattoo around her left ankle of the Icelandic phrase “Vegna þess að þú elskaðir mig”, which her grandmother often said to her.  She carries those words of love and encouragement in each step she takes. The whole family got tattoos when Kaillie made it to the national team. You can read more about Kaillie’s tattoos online here.   Kaillie said in an interview, “All my tattoos — family, goals, dreams, hopes — are just kind of the story of my life, where I've been, and where I want to go, who I am and how I got there." Her tattoos are more than just body art; they are reminders of home, loved ones, and the journey that shaped her identity.

Strength, Determination, and the Journey to Motherhood:

Kaillie Humphries, renowned for her grit and tenacity as a gold medallist bobsleigh Olympic champion, brought the same unwavering perseverance and determination to her personal life in the hope of starting a family with her husband, Travis Armbruster, himself a champion in the sport. Their shared commitment to excellence extended beyond the icy tracks, as they faced a challenging journey toward parenthood.

Diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition known to cause severe pain and impact fertility, Kaillie encountered obstacles that tested her resolve. Refusing to relinquish the dream of having a child, she and Travis embarked on the demanding and unpredictable path of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The emotional toll of three unsuccessful IVF attempts was considerable, yet Kaillie drew upon the same grit and focus that propelled her to Olympic glory. In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, she reflected, “If there’s anything sport has taught me, when the pressure gets high, keep everything simple and take it step by step.”

Persevering through disappointment and uncertainty, Kaillie’s steadfastness paid off. On 2024-07-14, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Aulden. Kaillie said in an interview, there were so many tears in the delivery room, her husband Travis and she, crying with joy.

Kaillie’s story of resilience continued as she returned to the global stage just nine months after giving birth. At the 2025 International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Championships in Lake Placid, she competed fiercely, finishing fourth—just missing the podium by one place. Partnering with her push athlete, Kaillie’s pride in their performance was evident, celebrating the achievement of returning to top-level competition so soon after childbirth.

Looking Ahead: The Road to the 2026 Winter Olympics

The Winter 2026 Olympics in Italy are coming up soon. With her sights set on gold once again, Kaillie Humphries continues to exemplify the power of perseverance, both as an athlete, an advocate and as a mother. Kaillie’s remarkable journey inspires us to pursue their dreams, undeterred by setbacks, and to face life’s challenges with resilience and hope.

Legacy

From the slopes of Calgary to the Olympic podiums of Vancouver, Sochi, PyeongChang, and Beijing, Kaillie Humphries has charted a path marked by triumph, challenge, and transformation. Her achievements as a dual citizen, trailblazer, and advocate embodies excellence, advocacy, and the spirit of a true pioneer. While Kaillie is known for her fierce competitiveness and remarkable achievements, she is equally recognized for her collaborative spirit, compassion for teammates, charitable advocacy work against bullying and dedication to her family.  

Many of these qualities—courage, persistence, loyalty, and strength—echo the legendary figures of the Icelandic sagas, whose heroes were celebrated for their bravery, honour, and exceptional skills. These values, rooted in her upbringing and heritage, underpin Kaillie Humphries' phenomenal success in her athletic career, as well as her ability to inspire others.

Kaillie has reshaped the landscape of women’s elite sport. She stands as a symbol of what is possible when passion meets purpose—a true champion whose enduring significance will inspire generations to come on the ice and beyond.

References:

• https://www.ibsf.org/en/our-sports/bobsleigh

• https://www.cbc.ca/sports/kaillie-humphries-places-15th-in-4-man-event-makes-bobsled-history-1.2880381

• Lake Placid Gold 2010 https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/detail/albrecht-carrie-wins-lake-placid-ac-4-man and https://behindthesceneswith.podbean.com/e/behind-the-scenes-with-travis-armbruster/

• https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/kaillie-humphries-gets-first-win-becoming-us-citizen

• https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/detail/three-times-bobsleigh-olympic-champion-kaillie-humphries-welcomes-baby-aulden

• https://www.espn.com.au/olympics/story/_/id/33201747/olympics-2022-fourth-games-bobsledder-kaillie-humphries-new-country-new-mission

• https://www.facebook.com/bobsledkaillie/photos/my-tattoos-remind-me-of-who-i-am-when-i-start-to-feel-my-identity-getting-blurre/2100265770257492/

• https://www.ksby.com/news/meet-athletes-kaillie-humphries-bobsled-team-usa

• https://www.kxan.com/news/bobsled-gold-medalist-kaillie-humphries-has-tattoos-with-meaning/

• https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/bobsledder-kaillie-humphries-talks-significance-tattoos