Þorrablót 2019 Was An Energetic Hit
The Icelandic Canadian Club’s 2019 Þorrablót was held on April 6th at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre and was an energetic hit. This year’s event saw close to 175 people gather for great food, camaraderie, fantastic auction bargains, unique entertainment and a chance to meet Iceland’s new ambassador to Canada.
Highlights of this year’s Þorrablót include:
Live auctioneer extraordinaire Linda Lundström;
One of our biggest silent auctions ever with over 111 items/lots sold!;
Fantastic musical entertainment throughout the event by Toronto band Deuxpeche Mode;
Deuxpeche Mode played instrumental cover versions of Icelandic alt-rock favorites by Of Mosters and Men, Björk, Ásgeir, Sigur Rós and others!;
Uniquely Icelandic delicacies served up as appetizers by our fantastic volunteer food crew: Graflax & Flatkaka, Rúllupylsa, Síld and Harðfiskur!;
Loads of Vínarterta and other home made desserts;
Sarah Boutilier’s fun “Giant Trolls” photobooth;
Kinmount Settlement information booth;
Popular raffle with great prizes of Icelandic Reyka Vodka and a food basket; and a
Special address by the Icelandic Ambassador to Canada Pétur Ásgeirsson.
Þorrablót is not just a great night out with friends and family and a scrumptious opportunity to enjoy quality Icelandic and Canadian foods, it is also an important fundraiser for the Club’s charitable activities!
All monies raised through our Silent and Live Auctions at Þorrablót go to fund our Youth Grants Program that includes Scholarships for post secondary students, Snorri travel grants, Icelandic Culture and Language Kids Camp grants, and monies to support the Snorri West program (for Icelandic youth touring North America). At this year’s event we raised over $4,600 for our Youth Grants Program. We also awarded four grants at the event to well-deserving recipients: Natalie Guttormsson — $1,000 Scholarship; Jem Cuthbert — $1,000 Scholarship; Arabella White — $1,000 Snorri Program Grant; and Jade Goodman — $1,000 Snorri Program Grant.
Our thanks to the many volunteers who helped organize and make this event a reality, including our Þorrablót committee, the tireless auction volunteers, the food conveners, childcare and others. Thanks to to: Kathleen Murray, Peter Norman, The ICCT Executive Team, Gail Einarson-McCleery, Phyllis Pollard, Sharon Hanson, Elizabeth Handley-Derry, Alyssa Marshall, Arden Jackson, The Birches Catering team, Rob Cuthbert, Linda Lundström, Deuxpeche Mode (Gary Butler and Taren Beaty), Katrine Handley-Derry, Richard Eriksson, Gwen Morgan. Sarah Boutilier, Kari Norman, Katie Norman, Matthew Norman, Audrey Norman, Jack and Carol Dodds, and Lindy Vopnfjörð!
And finally, a very special thanks to our many sponsors for this year’s event including Reyka Vodka, Icelandair, Viking Bakery, Therma Kōta, Embace Entertainment, Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast, and Vinarterta.ca