The school in Marshland where Kristján received his primary education. The man in the picture is unknown. Photo: TLD
Kristján Jónsson grew up among Icelandic immigrants in Manitoba. He was born in Argyle but moved with his mother and stepfather to the Marshland settlement on the western side of Lake Manitoba and they lived on their land north of Gladstone until 1912. The family moved to Winnipeg where Kristján completed his B.A. degree at the University of Manitoba in 1914 and in medicine in 1921. He added and completed his M.A. degree in physiology and chemistry as a minor in 1922. Early on, medical science occupied his mind, for in 1912 and 1922 he was awarded the University of Manitoba’s prize for his research in biology. Lastly, he completed special exams that gave him the right to practice medicine in every province of Canada.
Teacher and doctor
Kristján taught biochemistry at the University of Manitoba until 1916 and was assistant professor of physiology and pharmacology at the school in 1924-1926. He was a doctor in Wynyard, Saskatchewan for ten years from 1926 to 1936, then sat in a school class and studied ear, throat, nose and eye medicine in Chicago and in England for two years. He practiced at Maidstone Opthalmic Hospital in Kent. He returned to Canada and practiced medicine in Winnipeg as a specialist in related diseases. He worked as a doctor in Ontario during the Second World War and was appointed chief physician of the ear, nose and throat department of the military hospital in Deer Lodge. From there, he was released from his duties after an unparalleled medical career in 1957.
English version by Thor group.