Winnipeggers receive Iceland’s highest honour
Volunteer duo made major contributions to Manitoba's Icelandic community
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/06/2019 (2342 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Two Winnipeggers who have Icelandic roots have received the nordic island country’s highest honour.
Iceland President Guoni Thorlacius Johannesson awarded Stefan Jonasson and Judy Bradley the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Falcon last month. The order recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions in their fields.
“I’m still recovering from the surprise,” says Jonasson, a newspaper editor and Unitarian Universalist minister from St. James, who was told five days before the award was presented that he would be receiving it. “I was worried that I had not heard right.”
“It is truly an honour,” adds Bradley, a retired educator who lives in southwest Winnipeg. “It’s something I will always treasure, and I hope I can live up to it.”
Jonasson and Bradley have made significant contributions to Manitoba’s Icelandic community through their professional lives and volunteer efforts. Jonasson, whose paternal grandfather emigrated from Iceland to Canada in 1913, works for Logberg-Heimskringla, an Icelandic community newspaper.
A lifelong volunteer, Jonasson serves as first vice-president of the Icelandic National League of North America (INLA), which is headquartered in Gimli. He volunteers as the church and clergy specialist for a genealogical service called IcelandicRoots, and he leads tours to Iceland on a voluntary basis.
He has visited the country more than 15 times, most recently in December 2018, when Iceland celebrated the 100th anniversary of its independence from Denmark.
Additionally, Jonasson serves on the board of regents at the University of Winnipeg, and on the St. James Scholarship Foundation’s board.
“The things that make our community worth living in are often the result of volunteer work, so I try to give half a day or a day of my time each week to volunteer activities,” Jonasson says.
For Bradley, volunteering is a way to fulfil a goal she set for herself after more than 40 years of teaching and then working as the general secretary of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, where she was the first woman to hold that position.
“When I retired, I promised myself I would fully immerse myself in my culture,” says Bradley, whose great-grandparents emigrated from Iceland to Canada.
To that end, Bradley’s volunteer commitments include serving as president of the Icelandic Canadian Frón, the league’s Winnipeg chapter.
The group offers three levels of Icelandic language classes, raises funds to support young people who are interested in exploring their Icelandic heritage and hosts several cultural events annually.
Born and raised in Gimli, Bradley volunteers at Íslendingadagurinn, the community’s Icelandic festival, each summer. “I hope I can make a difference, and work to maintain the culture and language connected to Iceland,” she says.
Bradley and Stefansson were invested into the Order of the Falcon on May 19 when Johannesson was in Winnipeg with Canadian-born first lady Eliza Reid to attend the INLNA’s 100th anniversary convention.
Johannesson also invested Beverly Arason-Gaudet of Edmonton and Donald K. Johnson of Toronto into the order. The order was created in 1921. Since then, fewer than 75 Canadians have been awarded the honour.
The connection between Iceland and Manitoba began in the late 19th century and early 20th century when thousands of Icelanders moved to Canada and the U.S., with many of them settling in this province and establishing Gimli.
During a ceremony at Winnipeg’s city hall, Johannesson noted this special connection.
“It makes us Icelanders proud (and) privileged to feel and sense that here in Canada and also the U.S., we have these descendants of Icelanders who immigrated, who cherish and value the connection with the old land, who cherish and treasure their cultural heritage,” he said.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Volunteer opportunities
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
Thrive Community Support Circle is seeking volunteers to assist with its upcoming HUGS (Help Us Give Support) & Cakes fundraiser Thursday. Volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the decorations, tables and chairs, and dinner service during the event.
The time commitment is 4 to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will directly support the resource centre’s purchase of baby supplies, children’s items, hygiene products and food for participants. Email info@thrivewpg.com.
If you love the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and want to volunteer as a cook or cashier at the Inclusion Winnipeg concession stand, email admin@inclusionwinnipeg.org or call 204-953-5879. Preference will be given to people with food-handling or smart choices certificates. Letters of recommendation will be offered to those who complete the volunteer role.
The Manitoba Marathon needs course marshals to keep runners and the neighbourhood safe on race day (June 16). Good times and a free T-shirt are guaranteed. Available locations can be searched at wfp.to/pij. If you have any questions, email running@manitobamarathon.mb.ca.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is looking for volunteers to join its palliative, primary and home health services advisory council, and its ethics council public engagement group. Both meet four to six times per year (September to May, 5:30 to 8 p.m). Contact Elizabeth Premecz at 204-940-2579 or at epremecz@wrha.mb.ca (deadline is July 25) about the palliative council. For the ethics group, apply online at wfp.to/pCw, or contact Jennifer Dunsford at jdunsford@wrha.mb.ca or 204-926-7124 (deadline is June 15).
STARS air ambulance is looking for volunteers to help at a variety of events across Manitoba. Events might range from booths to golf tournaments, and all help raise funds to support STARS in providing care to patients across the Prairies. For more information, email cbigelow@stars.ca.
The Misericordia Health Centre is looking for volunteers to deliver newspapers to rooms. Openings are Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Lynn at 204-788-8131 or lhorton@misericordia.mb.ca.
The Creative Foundation, a not-for-profit community-based organization, is seeking a photographer/videographer and an IT technician. Email Yisa at cfiwpg@gmail.com.
The Royal City Soccer Club is looking for summer camp volunteers. Soccer skills are an asset and volunteers must be comfortable assisting with supervising in the swimming pool.
To apply, go to wfp.to/pNc. For more information, contact Nastazja at npalonka@royalsoccer.com or 1-800-427-0536, ext. 223.
Age & Opportunity: Support Services for Older Adults is seeking volunteer board members. Send your resumé and letter of intent to amacrae@aosupportservices.ca.
The Simkin Centre is seeking help for the Simkin Stroll fundraiser in support of therapeutic recreation programs, which help enrich the lives of residents. If you can volunteer on June 12, contact Jackie at 204-589-9008 or jackie.gonzales@simkincentre.ca.
Prairie Places Inc., a not-for-profit agency that supports 26 adults with intellectual disabilities in the community, has an opening for a board member this fall. The board meets monthly from September through June. Accounting or legal experience is an asset. Email ppi@mymts.net or call 204-783-8682.
The Canadian Red Cross is seeking volunteers. For more information, go to redcross.ca/volunteer or call 1-844-818-2155.
The Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association is seeking board members who want to take an active part in the community. They must live, work or volunteer within the boundaries of Portage Avenue (south), Ingersoll Street (west), Notre Dame Avenue (north) and Victor Street (east). For more information, go to dmsmca.ca or email nomination.dmsmca@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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