At our AGM on April 30th, 2022 we recognized the contributions of our members to the Icelandic community in North America. Here are our latest award winners!

Strong is the Bond / Römm er sú taug Recipient - Jónas Þór

The nominee must be a current member, in good standing, and has served 15 or more years within INL Iceland or an INLNA organization - Chapter/Club, Affiliate, Associate, or Individual. In addition, the nominee has been dedicated to promoting and strengthening the bonds both locally and internationally (Canada, USA, Iceland and beyond). The nominee has also made significant contributions through volunteering with INL/INLNA, including but not limited to involvement in international programs, events, education, Icelandic language, heritage, culture, and online projects, to promote all things Icelandic in a positive way.

Jónas Þór has served as a bridge between Iceland and the Icelandic communities in North America since 1977, when he came to Canada as a graduate student at the University of Manitoba. After receiving his master’s degree in history in 1981, he was retained as an instructor by the university’s Department of Icelandic Language and Literature. He was editor of Lögberg-Heimskringla from 1981 to 1987, overseeing the paper’s transition from a predominantly Icelandic-language publication to a bilingual one, while laying the groundwork for the paper in its current form.

After Jónas returned to Iceland in 1987, he chose to devote much of his free time to continue building relationships across the sea. Active in Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga (INL Iceland), he organized eight-week-long seminars about the Western Icelandic communities beginning in 2000. He has vigorously promoted awareness about the great migration of Icelanders to North America.

Jónas’s scholarly writings include the most reliable translations of Icelandic source material into English and much of the documentary history of Icelandic North Americans. In 1989, Jónas wrote Íslendingadagurinn: An illustrated History to mark the centennial of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba. In 2002, the University of Manitoba Press published Jónas’s book Icelanders in North America: The First Settlers, a masterpiece of scholarship, which remains the only comprehensive history of the Icelandic immigrants to North America during the period of intensive settlement from 1870 to 1914. In 2011, he produced the book Varðinn í Vestri (published in English as A Monument in Manitoba), which tells the fascinating story of how a statue of Icelandic patriot and independence leader Jón Sigurðsson came to stand on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building. The project was an important step in community collaboration that influenced the eventual emergence of the Icelandic National League of North America.

Jónas has guided countless tours to Canada and the United States of behalf of the travel company Vesturheimur and later Bændaferðir, the travel service of the Farmers Society of Iceland, which have introduced individual Icelanders to their North American cousins while at the same time bringing fine Icelandic choral groups to perform in North American communities Jónas’s latest project, Vesturfarar.is, promises to be a major educational platform and database with information on Icelandic immigrants to North America and their descendants’ continuing ties with Iceland.

Laurence S. G. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Recipient – Brad Hirst

The Laurence S. G. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award was initiated in 2003 to be bestowed upon a recipient for significant and diverse contributions not only to the Icelandic Community but also in the community at large.

Brad Hirst has been a member of the Selkirk Brúin Chapter INLNA for more than 20 years and also the Icelandic Canadian Frón for several years. Brad was introduced to Icelandic community activities in 1996 by Laurence S.G. Johnson of Selkirk, the man whom this award is named, when he was recruited to host an Icelandic pavilion at the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School. Laurence mentored Brad and led him to become involved in INLNA. He has been a very active member of Selkirk Brúin Chapter, serving in a variety of leadership roles in addition to singing in the chapter's Kaffi Tima Choir and serving as emcee at Selkirk's Summardagurinn Fyrsti (First Day of Summer Concert). He is a frequent participant in INLNA conventions.

Brad travelled to Iceland in 2002 with the Snorri Program, which was life changing for him and led him to further involvement in Icelandic community activities. He followed up his Snorri participation with the Snorri Alumni from 2004-2006. Brad is great example of how the Snorri Program can transform a person and lead them to immerse themselves in their heritage.

Brad became the language instructor for the Icelandic Language and Culture Camp in 2003 and took over as Camp Director in 2008. He became CEO of the camp in 2014 and continues to serve in that role, organizing the program, recruiting volunteers, and fundraising for the camp. During the pandemic, he has ensured that the organization has remained intact so that it can once again offer its program when the pandemic has passed.

For a time, Brad served on the INLNA board, including terms as second vice president and first vice president. Brad has participated in Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga (INL Iceland) conventions on his own initiative, promoting both the Icelandic Language and Culture Camp and relationships with INLNA while there. He has spoken at ÞFÍ meetings – the first time entirely in Icelandic! – as well as INLNA conventions.

One of the most active members of the Icelandic community in Manitoba, Brad is widely recognized as an advocate and spokesperson for our culture and heritage in the province.

Joan Inga Eyolfson Cadham Award Recipient – Lorna Tergesen

The Joan Inga Eyolfson Cadham Award was established in 2017 to recognize individuals who have been outstanding in the promotion of Icelandic culture and heritage by way of literature, arts, or media. The award was established in honour of Joan Eyolfson Cadham, an adventurer, journalist, and weaver of stories, possessed of strong ethics and a deep faith.

Lorna Tergesen has promoted Icelandic culture and heritage through literature, media, and the arts for well over half a century. She is best known for her decades-long service as the longest-tenured editor of Icelandic Connection (formerly The Icelandic Canadian) in addition to serving as corporate secretary of the publisher, Canadian Icelandic Heritage, Inc. As both a publisher’s representative and the genius behind the book department at H.P. Tergesen and Sons in Gimli, she has been an avid promoter of Icelandic, Icelandic Canadian, and Icelandic American authors. Tergesen’s regularly hosts author events in Gimli and many local authors have received their start with her support. But her influence has been felt beyond the print media, including music and the visual arts.

Lorna Tergesen has been a member of the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society for many years, serving successively as vice president, president, and past President. She has been a constant presence in the life of the chapter, whether making lunch for a visiting choir from Iceland, providing refreshments for Gimli students after the "Walk to the Rock," or hosting visitors from Iceland in her home. Lorna has attended many INLNA conventions and is a frequent participant at events hosted other chapters in Winnipeg and the Manitoba Interlake.

Lorna is a long-time a member of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, where she and her late husband, Terry, sponsored the New Iceland Music and Poetry Appreciation Society as well as oversaw the festival’s Art Show. She was president of the Icelandic Festival in 1989, during its centennial year, and welcomed President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir during her official visit to take part in the festivities and in 1997, Lorna was Fjallkona at Íslendingadagurinn.

Lorna was a founding member of the Icelandic Language and Cultural Camp, which began at the Sunrise Camp in Husavík, Manitoba, and later moved to Camp Vesalka, north of Gimli. She is also a strong supporter of the New Iceland Heritage Museum. For many years, she was a member of the board of directors of the Canada Iceland Foundation.

Born and raised in Gimli, Lorna married Terry Tergesen and they made their home in Winnipeg, raising four sons and one daughter, while maintaining strong ties to Gimli. Returning to their hometown, Lorna and Terry took over operation of H.P. Tergesen and Sons, along with their children, making it a retail and cultural icon.

Back home, Lorna pursued her passion for singing as a member of the Westshore Singers. She joins other volunteers at Betel Personal Care Home on Friday evenings for the Happy Hour singsong. If something is happening that involves Icelandic culture, Lorna will be there!

Honorary Life Membership Recipients – Donna Crozier & Brian Crozier

Shirley Stefanson MacFarlane

The nominee must be a current member in good standing and have served 10 years as a member of an INLNA organization. In addition, the nominee must have demonstrated outstanding service to INLNA through involvement in a member organization and community activities including understanding and promoting Icelandic culture and heritage.

Donna Crozier has been a member, director, and volunteer with Norðurljós, the Icelandic Canadian Club of Edmonton, for about 20-years. During that time she has been club President for several terms, then served as Past President. She currently serves on the Board as Director at Large and as Auditor.

Donna, frequently assisted and supported by her husband Brian, has offered the kind of backbone support that every volunteer organization relies on. Always ready to help, she has organized and participated in a wide variety of club activities. Whether it is overseeing and assisting in the planning of three INLNA conventions as club president, making rullupylsa, vinarterta and pönnukökur for club events, finding charter buses and lunches for visits to Markerville for Islendingamot, Donna has made things happen for club members for 20 years. She also made sure the club library was taken care of when it needed to move last year; sang with the Saga Singers; volunteered with Brian at umpteen casinos; and represents our club in the Edmonton Scandinavian Centre Association, where she is also a board member.

She has often been assisted by her husband Brian in the many small and large tasks it takes for club events to be held and it is very fitting that he is also recognized with this award.

*******

Shirley Stefanson MacFarlane is a long-standing member of the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society. She is involved in numerous activities with the GICS, such as being the Chair of the Sunshine Committee, being an integral part of the Membership Committee as well as assisting with the planning and presentation of Society events.

Shirley is a full and committed member of the GICS. She has an excellent command of the Icelandic language dating from her early up-bringing in Riverton. This was acquired with her Icelandic-speaking family members where she has an interesting blend of a mixed Icelandic-Métis heritage. Her Icelandic language skills have made her the Icelandic language teachers’ favourite where they have paired her off with beginner-language students to give them extra practice. She has been a participating member of the ‘Kaffitíma’ Icelandic Chat Group as well as one of our key members to have on hand when the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society has hosted tour groups and visitors from Iceland.

Shirley is also the keeper of a very special artifact from our New Iceland history. Her grandfather, Thorvarður Stefansson wrote a daily diary for many years beginning with his journey to Canada in 1886 and into the twentieth century. Shirley ensured that these diaries were not lost and has kept them safe in her possession since she rescued them from the family’s home at Bakka, which was located on the banks of the Icelandic River. Shirley has made these diaries available, and they have been consulted by historians from both Canada and Iceland when researching specific issues and events from those times.

Outside of the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society, Shirley is a busy lady. She volunteers at the New Iceland Heritage Museum. She assists with the Meals on Wheels program. She is a volunteer with the Gimli Hospital Auxiliary. In the past, she has volunteered with the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba and continues to assist at the GICS table at the festival.