Sigtryggur Jónasson, Father of New Iceland

Sigtryggur Jónasson was a farm boy from the valley of Oxnadalur who rose to positions of influence in government. business, and society in his adopted Canada. He achieved an impressive range of accomplishments during his remarkable career.

Sigtryggur, the Man

Sigtryggur Jonasson in 1875

Just 20 years of age when he became the first Icelander to settle in Canada in 1872, he was sought out by his countrymen for his natural leadership qualities as a scout for a prospective settlement site. With the establishment of New Iceland on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg in 1875, he became the settlement’s first elected head of council. In the turbulent years that followed and for many years afterward, he became New Iceland’s champion.

Sigtryggur was an entrepreneur of great vision and optimism. He became captain of New Iceland's first ship, Victoria, in 1879, and together with Fridjon Fridriksson, he established a transportation, logging, sawmill, shipbuilding, and commercial venture at Icelandic River. His efforts are credited with saving the settlement from abandonment during the “Great Exodus" of 1880-81. He was a key backer of New Iceland’s newspaper, Framfari in 1877, and he also served as its first editor. He later became a founder and editor of the newspaper Logberg and editor of tire periodical Syrpa.

Raised and educated in his parents' home, Sigtryggur then entered the service of Governor Petur I lavstein at Moðruvellir in Horgardalur, furthering his education and gaining valuable experience there and also meeting his future wife, Rannveig Olafsdottir Briem.

In 1872, as a young man seeking broader horizons, Sigtryggur emigrated at age 20 and became the first Icelander to settle permanently in Canada. On the advice of a Scotsman he had met on the voyage, he first settled in Ontario, where he perfected his English and learned the ways of the new land. In 1873 other Icelanders began arriving in Ontario, and because of his experience, Sigtryggur became involved in their search for a settlement site. In spite of his age. he demonstrated exceptional prudence in advising his countrymen, and in 1875 he was elected tosearch for a settlement site in the Canadian West. Together with four other Icelandic scouts and John Taylor, he subsequently selected New Iceland on the west shore of lake Winnipeg in July of that year.

Sigtryggur and Rannveig’s married life was loving and harmonious, but as Rannveig’s health was delicate they fostered children. Percy Chaloner McGie, born in Nova Scotia, grew up with them from infancy and took their name, while Rannveig "Rose" Kristmunds- dottir (Taylor/Banks) lived with them for some years.

In 1910, Sigtryggur homesteaded Grasbagi in the Årdal Settlement and went into business in the newlyestablished village of Arborg. Rannveig, in failing health, remained in Winnipeg, where she died in 1916. Some years later, Sigtryggur returned to Icelandic River (Riverton) and spent eight years at Engimyri, where he rented quarters from his nephew Tomas T. Jónasson. His final years were spent at Arborg, where he died at the age of 90 in 1942. In accordance with his wishes, he was buried at Riverton, on the bank of the Icelandic River.

Sigtryggur Jonasson

Sigtryggur and Rannveig

Sigtryggur: His Career

A farm boy from the valley of Oxnadalur who rose to positions of influence in government. business, and society in his adopted Canada. Sigtryggur Jonasson achieved an impressive range of accomplishments during his remarkable career.

Just 20 years of age when he became the first Icelander to settle in Canada in 1872, he was sought out by his countrymen for his natural leadership qualities as a scout for a prospective settlement site. With the establishment of New Iceland on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg in 1875, he became the settlement’s first elected head of council (Vatnsþing). In the turbulent years that followed and for many years afterward, he became New Iceland’s champion.

An entrepreneur of great vision and optimism, Sigtryggur became captain of New Iceland's first ship, Victoria, in 1879, together with Fridjon Fridriksson, he established a transportation, logging, sawmill, shipbuilding, and commercial venture at Icelandic River, which is credited with saving the settlement from abandonment during the “Great Exodus of 1880-81 . A key backer of New Iceland’s newspaper, Framfari. in 1877, he also served as its first editor, and he later became a founder and editor of the newspaper Logberg and editor of tire periodical Syrpa.

Sigtryggur in 1890

A highly intelligent and articulate man of aristocratic bearing, Sigtryggur was twice elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1896 and 1907. Although a strong supporter of his homeland, he was an advocate of Icelandic immigration to Canada, which he believed was of benefit to both countries. He returned to Iceland as an agent of the Canadian Government on two occasions, in 1875-76 and in 1893, making major contributions to Icelandic immigration to Canada. To facilitate settlement, he served as a homestead inspector from 1901 to 1906. As a result of his personal and political influence, the CPR finally agreed to build a rail line to Gimli in 1906, with a second line to Arborg in 1910 and one to Icelandic River (Riverton) in 1914.

Throughout his long career, Sigtryggur supported many worthwhile causes, gave generously of his personal means, and earned many honours,-including acknowledgements by the Icelandic community and an appointment to represent Canada at Iceland’s 1930 millennial celebration. The honours dearest to his heart, however, were the titles “Father of Icelandic Settlement in Canada" and "Father of New Iceland".

Sigtryggur Jónasson Statue by the Icelandic River in Riverton, Manitoba

Close up of Sigtryggur Jónasson Statue

The Sigtryggur Jónasson Statue

Without question the single most important player in the drama that began with the founding of New Iceland in 1875 is Sigtryggur Jónasson - “Father of New Iceland” and “Father of Icelandic Settlement in Canada”. While Sigtryggur has been widely recognized for his contributions and has recently been designated a “person of national historic significance”by the Canadian Government, his grave in the Riverton Cemetery is marked only by a modest headstone.

Sigtryggur arrived in Canada in 1872 at the age of 20, the first permanent Icelandic settler in Canada. In 1875 he was in the delegation that selected and reserved the area of New Iceland for Icelandic settlement. Instrumental in the drafting of the Constitution of New Iceland, Sigtryggur was also elected as the first Governor of this “Icelandic reserve” on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg.

Sigtryggur’s original homestead on the west bank of the Icelandic River, Moðruvellir, is considered the most appropriate location to honour this visionary leader of Icelandic settlement in Canada. During his occupancy of Moðruvellir from 1876 to 1881, this site (now including Riverton's Centennial Park) served as administrative headquarters for New Iceland, as well as the district’s first school, post office, and editorial base of Framfari. Sigtryggur’s home also became the headquarters of New Iceland’s first major corporation, a shipping, mercantile, and sawmill enterprise.

In 2010 Sigtryggur was designated a “Person of National Historic Significance” by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. To recognize this notable Icelandic Canadian pioneer, IRHSI has commissioned a life size bronze sculpture of Sigtryggur.

One of the first undertakings was to honour our remarkable founding father Sigtryggur Jónasson, ‘Father of Icelandic Settlement in Canada” and “Father of New Iceland’, with a seven-foot bronze sculpture - not unlike the statue of Jon Sigurdsson that stands on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature. Though best known for his leadership role in helping to found New Iceland and pilot the settlement through its hazardous first years in the face of great misfortune, Sigtryggur Jónasson is also a “figure of national historic significance” - for the Icelandic community as a whole. The first Icelander to settle in Canada, Sigtryggur worked tirelessly for the benefit of his Icelandic countrymen in many respects by gaining and maintaining the respect and goodwill of the Dominion Government, facilitating transportation, improving conditions for the immigrants, and advocating on then- behalf in the halls of power - including his support for settlers as a homestead inspector. Much of his work for the common good during the first years has been forgotten, while some has actually been misrepresented due to later misrepresentations of the facts. The ripple effect of his contributions, however, reached far beyond any one settlement and transcended borders, even extended to his homeland, where he proposed reforms and innovations in shipping and transportation prior to 1900. Sigtryggur was also a driving force behind such endeavors as the founding of the Icelandic newspapers Framfari and Logberg, and the establishment (together with Fridjon Fridriksson) in 1880 of a logging, transportation, and boat building enterprise at Icelandic River that was the salvation of New Iceland. In addition to captaining the steamer Victoria on Lake Winnipeg to provide shipping links with the outside world, he championed railway extensions to the Icelandic settlements - using his influence to convince CPR officials to build a railway to Gimli in 1906, Arborg in 1910, and Riverton in 1914. He served in the Manitoba Legislature for two terms and represented Canada at Millennium Celebrations in Iceland in 1930, by then almost 80 years of age.

The list of Sigtryggur’s accomplishments, many of which helped to gain respect for the Icelandic people in North America, is far more extensive, and something often overlooked were his countless acts of personal generosity and compassion. Many were the times when he reached into his pocket or gave his time and energy to help countrymen in need.

The 7 foot bronze sculpture recognizing this exceptional founding father as both a “local hero” and a “figure of national historic significance” depicts him at age 23 on the occasion of his arrival at Icelandic River with the scouting party that selected this settlement in July of 1875. The statue will be unveiled on the west bank of the Icelandic River, on Sigtryggur’s original homestead, Moðruvellir, in the waterfront area now being developed in the village of Riverton.