Author: Katrín Níelsdóttir

For Doreen M. McFarlane, becoming an author wasn’t part of a lifelong plan; it was something that emerged later, almost unexpectedly, and then all at once.

“I keep telling everybody I’ve written eleven books,” she says with a laugh. “Eight are published – but still, eleven!”

Her work spans theology, leadership, and pastoral care, with titles like God in Translation and Leadership Lessons from Jesus. But among these academic publications sits something entirely different: a novel about an Icelandic ghost who follows a family across generations – and across the ocean to Canada. It’s a story McFarlane insists she never intended to write.

Author: Rachel Dong, Vancouver, BC

Driving across Iceland, I was amazed by how vast and open the landscape felt. However, after hours of sitting in the vans, I began to question who this system was really built for. Most destinations were only accessible by private vehicle, and aside from airport shuttles, I didn’t encounter any widespread public transit. The lack of accessible, low-emission options seemed at odds with Iceland’s reputation for environmental leadership.

Tourism now plays a central role in Iceland’s economy. The number of visitors has grown rapidly, from fewer than half a million in 2010 to over 2.3 million in 2018 – more than six times the country’s population (Sigmundsdóttir, 2021). This growth has generated jobs and revenue, helping to lift the country out of the 2008 financial crisis. However, it also raises concerns about how to balance economic benefits with long-term infrastructure needs and local well-being.

Author: Icelandic Roots 

The goal for many Icelandic emigrants to Canada was to get to Gimli, Manitoba and join those who left before them. The plan was to establish Nýja Ísland, where the immigrants could be close to friends and family, and preserve their culture, traditions, and language.

However, the first Icelanders to Canada settled in Ontario. In The Icelanders of Kinmount, Don Gislason referred to it as an “experiment in settlement” because it largely failed. Only a few families chose to stay and set down roots. The rest moved on to Gimli or to settlements in the United States, and a few attempted to make a home in Nova Scotia. Today, there’s little evidence of Icelandic influence in Ontario. And yet they were there.