ICCT Hosted Snorri West Travelers in June 2018

By Gail Einarson-McCleery (as published in the September, 2018 Fálkinn)

Snorri West is a program run by the Icelandic National League of North America under which four young people from Iceland (aged 18 to 29) visit a different corridor of North America each year, with overall organization by Jody Arman-Jones.

This year it was the Eastern corridor, consisting of Washington DC, Toronto, Ottawa, L´Anse aux Meadows and Halifax, from June 21 to 28, to learn about what happened to those Icelanders who emigrated here, most of them in the late 1800´s …and hopefully to find some relatives.

This year, we had one woman, Dagrún Malmquist Jónsdóttir from Garðabær, and three men, Daði Geir Samuelsson from Flúðir, Ívar Gautsson from Reykjavík and Sigmundur Geir Sigmundsson (Simbi) from Borgarnes. All were bright and lively and a pleasure to be around.

Kathleen Murray and I met them at the Airport and took them to City Hall for lunch. Kathleen saw the Mayor arriving, so we went to his office to see if he could meet with him; alas, he was in a meeting. Nonetheless we were able to show off City Hall and then the Eaton Centre! Since Simbi (Sigmundur) would be representing them on CTV’s “Your Morning” show the next day, we set off to find an Icelandic soccer jersey for him… rumour had it they were being sold on Yonge Street, but alas, not the Icelandic one. Nonetheless, we had fun trying all the sporting goods stores! Then of course, shopping, before Gail delivered them to their host families.

Because we were in the middle of soccer-mania with Iceland in the World Cup for the first time, CTV asked them to come to the studio the next day at 7 am to talk soccer and teach the hosts the Viking Clap! National coverage! Niagara Falls was next on the agenda; Peter Norman and Richard Eriksson showed them the tourist sights, after watching Iceland’s second soccer match at a local pub. Then Peter’s sister, Heather, organized a winery tour and contributed a dinner for them at the winery.

Saturday they had a chance to sleep in a little before Sacha Gudmundsson introduced them to Indigenous culture at the Fort York Festival before giving them a chance to see some of our downtown neighbourhoods, including Queen Street, Kensington Market and Harbourfront. Then it was time to attend a BBQ at Peter and Kari Norman’s lovely home so they could get to meet the Committee Members and the generous donors. We also celebrated Simbi’s birthday, a golden one, 23 on the 23rd of the month!

After a day off on Sunday, Meredith Macfarquhar, Kara Schuster and I picked them up to head for the settlement areas of Kinmount and Hekkla, where sculptor Guðrún Sigursteinsdóttir Girgis had organized a most interesting tour. Local teacher, historian and writer Guy Scott took us to the site of the railway trestle where the 251 immigrants had worked and lived in 1874 before lack of money ended the supply of work. Most of these people then went west and were the founders of New Iceland at Gimli. The visitors also enjoyed touring the local movie theatre which hosts a museum full of artifacts from earlier years. Then it was on to have a buffet lunch at the beautiful Casino Rama, and a visit to a local sawmill still using the old methods. We overnighted at the lovely cottage of Marilyn and Paul White (‘it’s not a cottage, it’s a mansion’, said Simbi!), with many good discussions of conditions in Iceland compared to Canada. And a little swimming.

Monday we toured a wildlife refuge, where amongst other animals, the coyotes gave us a chilling concert, and then met descendants of the settlers from 1873 at Hekkla Church and Cemetery near Rosseau. During lunch Bruce Crawford told us about the local history. Edith Smith, 94 and still going strong, impressed everyone with her Icelandic costume and tales of the olden days, and the ‘Welcome’ cake she had baked!

Then it was time for soccer once again, which we watched in a local pub and did another interview for the local paper. Afterwards we headed for some relaxation to Guðrun´s waterfront home and a chance to go canoeing! Then another highlight: Kara Schuster took them to their first drive-in movie! Wednesday it was time for Holly Wirth to show them the CN Tower, Aquarium, and have a tour of the Steam Whistle Brewery with Erika Graholm. Ivar´s cousin from Windsor, Kris Browne, joined them for the day, after which Meredith Macfarquhar hosted a farewell dinner, before they were driven to the airport the next morning by Madeline Pekary and Kathleen Murray.

What a great opportunity it was for all of us to meet these engaging young people. Our thanks to our #1 donor, Donald K. Johnson, as well as to our other donors Ian and David MacFarquhar, Consul-General Adam Kalbfleisch, former Consul-General Jon Johnson and wife Pat, Margaret and Doug Van Hamme, Fran Moscall, Jenny Amy and Dr. Heather Norman. Our Committee Members, Meredith, Kathleen, Peter, Madeline, Sacha, Holly, Kara and Guðrun did a great job organizing, hosting and fundraising. Home stay hosts Holly Wirth and Junior Chang and his wife Alison welcomed them into their homes and took good care of them. Thanks to all of them!

[Show as slideshow]