March 4, 2021

Winnipeg
3° C, Fair

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Winnipeg Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
Local

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Viking, elves, trolls gather in new park

Icelandic Festival unveils mythical space in Gimli

By: Ashley Prest
Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p>

PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

GIMLI — There are elves living in a garden in the new Viking Park in Gimli.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 3/8/2017 (1309 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GIMLI — There are elves living in a garden in the new Viking Park in Gimli.

Don’t believe it? Go there and see for yourself.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend.</p>

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend.

Houses for elves — huldufólk in Icelandic folklore — are in among the rocks in the Elf Garden at the foot of the famous Viking statue in Viking Park on 2nd Avenue.

The new park will be unveiled today, but the official grand opening will be held on Saturday at noon during the 2017 Islendingadagurinn — the 128th Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, which is being held on Saturday through Monday in Gimli.

The ambitious and creative plan began in 2014 — the Islendingadagurinn’s 125th anniversary — and was completed to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend.</p>

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend.

"The Icelandic Festival wanted to put something back into the community and the park is definitely a great way to do that," said Kristine Sigurdson, the executive director of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.

"It’s fully accessible and has beautiful upgrades but it’s also all about the history and the culture of our community, the Icelanders and the story of Gimli being settled."

The Elf Garden is one of three different gardens, including the Troll Storm Garden and the Breakwater Garden, filled with indigenous plants, grasses and flowers in the newly created space around the iconic statue. The park is fully accessible at no charge to all, including those with limited mobility.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Viking Park officially opens this weekend.</p></p>

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Viking Park officially opens this weekend.

Stone pathways that look like cracked ice wind their way through the park, many of them personalized by community donors with engraved messages or commemorations of loved ones.

The Viking statue itself was already a major tourist site in town, but it has now been enhanced by the new park.

The Winnipeg-based HTFC Planning & Design, the same company that is working on the design of the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden at Assiniboine Park and the Oodena Celebration Circle at The Forks, designed the Viking Park landscape.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Six-year-old Bentley Gray checks out the Viking statue in the newly created Viking Park in Gimli. </p>

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Six-year-old Bentley Gray checks out the Viking statue in the newly created Viking Park in Gimli.

In a partnership with the RM of Gimli and the Betel Home Foundation and contributions from community sponsors, the Icelandic Festival raised more than $900,000 to pay for the park.

"It’s for our community and for the people who come to visit Gimli. It’s a beautiful extension of the harbour and it provides a pedestrian experience. That’s where a lot of us feel Gimli should be, a pedestrian-friendly place. You can park your car and (on foot or wheel) see all of the wonderful things that we have to offer," Sigurdson said.

Sigurdson said the festival is proud to note that only $25,000 of provincial government money went into the project.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend. Icelandic Festival Executive Director Kristine Sigurdson in the park.</p>

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Gimli opens new space to house their giant statue of a Viking called Viking Park just prior to the Gimli Icelandic Festival this weekend. Icelandic Festival Executive Director Kristine Sigurdson in the park.

In addition to the elf houses, Icelandic culture is represented by mythic trolls. According to Icelandic folklore, trolls turn to stone in daylight. The Storm Troll Garden features rocks with troll faces, some carved and some hidden, requiring the visitors’ imaginations.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

A heritage wall documenting the community’s history, back-lit at night with LED lighting so it can be viewed anytime, greets visitors as they walk up and has circular benches in front for comfort while reading. The wall also includes a key to Norse runes to help visitors solve rune puzzles carved into the stone pathway. Norse runes are symbols known to have been used for written communication in medieval times and Icelandic history.

The garden area also serves as a reservoir for storm runoff in the community, so it features only plants that thrive in aqueous soil, such as blue flag iris, prairie blazing star, rush honeysuckle, blue fox willow and red osier dogwood.

As for the Elf Garden, the elves may be tough to spot as they are said to be usually invisible. But Icelandic lore says it’s a certainty they will occupy the elf houses and their presence stands for living in harmony with nature.

The Viking statue was placed in 1967 by the Gimli Chamber of Commerce.

— with files from Bill Redekop

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top