Hólmfríður Ólafsdóttir

Vesturfarar

The Vestur-Íslenzkar Æviskrár publication contains a good overview of Hólmfríður’s work and her great interest in her Icelandic homeland. It says “Hólmfríður moved west across the ocean with her parents in 1900, first to Mountain, N. Dakota, and then Árborg, Man., in 1903. She grew up there and received a elementary and high school education there, then completed a teacher’s degree and was a schoolteacher for three years. When she graduated from high school, she received the highest grades in all subjects given in Manitoba, and a special award for excellent solutions to projects related to Canadian history. Has worked on a variety of cultural issues in Canada and especially among Western Icelanders, e.g. for the benefit of the Þjðræknisfélag (Icelandic National League) and the Icelandic Canadian Club. President of that association in 1945-46. Vice-President of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, one of the most powerful women’s associations in Canada, and Director of its Education Department in Manitoba. Secretary for the Canadian Red Cross between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba 1925-30. On the board of the Save the Children Fund for a while. Has worked in committees to raise money for the Betel Retirement Home in Gimli, Sunrise Lutheran Camp, a teacher’s chair in Icelandic studies at the University of Manitoba. Has managed a drama group in Árborg and elsewhere, written plays and received awards in drama competitions. Got a scholarship from the Manitoba Drama League in 1953 to study drama at the Banff School of the Arts. She was the main driving force in the committee for the Icelandic parade wagon at the 100-year commemoration in Spanish Fork, Utah, 1955. She has worked extensively in the Jón Sigurðsson Society, being its secretary for 15 years and a lifelong member. Secretary of the First Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. Has traveled on behalf of the Icelandic National League, rehearsed singing groups, taught Icelandic and delivered talks to hundreds of people about Icelandic culture, history, literature and arts across Canada and the United States and on radio, and also for the Imperial Order Daughters. Visited Iceland in 1938 and stayed there for about 10 weeks. Editorial work: On the editorial board of The Icelandic Canadian for 7 years and its chairman, has written various articles for that magazine. In charge of publishing Iceland’s Thousand Years together with professor Skúli Johnson’s school, and there are introductory remarks and a lecture by her. Article about West Icelandic artists in Tímarit Þjðræknisfélagin 1950. Edited and reprinted the book “Three times a Pioneer” by Magnús G. Guðlaugsson, White Rock, B.C. (Winnipeg 1958)”

English version by Thor Group.