The Icelandic People of Manitoba was first published in 1965.
The Lundar Diamond Jubilee (published 1948) has the following account on Wilhelm Kristjanson: “Wilhelm Kristjanson, B.A. son of Magnús and Margrét Kristjanson, was born at Otto in the Shoal Lake district December 28, 1896. After spending one term at the Jon Bjarnason Academy he enlisted in the 107th. Batt. in January 1916. He served in France with the 44th Batt. and was wounded on Vimy Ridge. He was transferred to the R.A.F. in 1918 and served there as Lieut. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1924. Established University records in indoor mile in 1921 and half a mile walk in 1923. Member University Track Ream at Inter-U. meet 1923 and awarded “M”. Was awarded the I.O.D.E. Overseas Scholarship for Manitoba 1926. St. Catherines´Oxford 1925-1926. Rowed for St. Catherines in “Torpids” and “Summer Eights”. Faculty of Education Graduate School, University of Chicago 1927. High School Principal at Manitou, Man., 1930-1937. Department of Education 1937, appointment to Correspondence Branch. University of Manitoba Con. C.O.T.C., October 1939. Served on Staff as Captain and Adjutant. After the war he resumed his position with the Dept. of Education. He was granted Fellowship and the Manitoba Historical Society 1947-1948 for the purpose of research and the writing of the History of Icelanders in Manitoba”.
THE ICELANDIC PEOPLE IN MANITOBA
“History has woven the fabric of Western Canadian life from many strands. One of these was provided by the settlers who came from Iceland in the last decades of the 19th century.
“Mr. Wilhelm Kristjanson´s account of “The Icelandic people in Manitoba” will be welcomed not only by those who have special links with Iceland and her people, but by anyone with broad interest in the settlement of Western Canada. The author´s painstaking scrutiny of an enormous wealth of source material has resulted in a carefully documented historical study”
Professor HARALDUR BESSASON
Department of Icelandic Language and Literature
University of Manitoba