0709 Iceland/Canada (Icelandic relations with Manitoba)

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REYKJAVIK — Canada’s ambassador to Iceland, Jenny Hill, describes her diplomatic post as a “dream job” — and for good reason. As both nations mark the 150th anniversary of Icelandic migration to Canada, the ties between the two countries are stronger than ever — especially when it comes to Manitoba.

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Hill, originally from British Columbia, will soon make her first-ever visit to Manitoba, joining Iceland’s president at this summer’s Íslendingadagurinn (Icelandic Festival) in Gimli from Aug. 1-4. The visit will commemorate the arrival of the first Icelandic settlers in New Iceland, the name given to the region along Lake Winnipeg where many Icelanders established roots starting in 1875.

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“I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve never been to Manitoba before,” Hill said in an interview from Reykjavik. “But I’m incredibly excited to visit, especially for such an important moment in our shared history.”

Roughly 200,000 Canadians are of Icelandic descent — more than half the population of Iceland itself. The majority of those live in Manitoba and western Canada, making Gimli one of the largest Icelandic communities outside the Nordic island nation.

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“It’s amazing how many people still identify strongly with that heritage,” Hill said. “And they’re not just holding onto it — they’re bringing it to life in meaningful ways.”

Connecting across the North Atlantic

One of the clearest examples of those cultural ties is the Snorri Program, which brings young Canadians of Icelandic descent to Iceland each year to learn about their ancestry, connect with long-lost relatives, and immerse themselves in local culture. Hill recently hosted 25 such “New Icelanders,” most of them from western Canada.

“It’s so moving to see these young people discover where their ancestors came from,” she said. “They often stay with distant family members they’ve never met and learn about Icelandic language, traditions, and even do community service here.”

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The program also works in reverse. Icelandic youth have travelled to Manitoba and Alberta to visit Canadian relatives and experience modern-day “New Iceland.” It’s a people-to-people connection that Hill sees as the bedrock of the Canada–Iceland relationship.

“That migration story is really unique,” Hill said. “And it still resonates deeply on both sides of the ocean.”

Iceland’s president to visit Manitoba

This year’s festival in Gimli will have added significance. Iceland’s president, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, is expected to visit Winnipeg and Gimli to participate in the 150th anniversary celebrations. The embassy in Ottawa and consulate in Winnipeg are organizing a full itinerary, which includes stops at the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and engagement with Indigenous communities.

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Hill noted that the visit will also touch on an important — and often overlooked — part of the Icelandic settlement story: the displacement of Indigenous peoples during the original migration.

“It’s important we acknowledge the full history,” she said. “And part of reconciliation is understanding how all settler communities, including the Icelandic ones, fit into that narrative.”

Trade, defence and Arctic cooperation

While culture and history are strong foundations, Hill said Canada and Iceland are also looking to grow their relationship in other areas — notably trade, security, and Arctic policy.

“Iceland’s a highly innovative country, especially when it comes to adapting to extreme weather and environmental conditions,” Hill said. “A lot of their technologies make sense for Canada’s North.”

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The two countries are part of the Arctic Council, a forum of eight circumpolar nations that work on issues affecting the North, from climate science to Indigenous knowledge sharing. While the Council’s high-level political work has been hampered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, scientific collaboration continues among the remaining members, which include Canada, Iceland, the U.S., and the Nordic states.

Canada is also set to open new Arctic consulates in Anchorage, Alaska, and Nuuk, Greenland, part of a broader strategy to ensure Arctic nations — and not outside powers — shape the region’s future.

“Our position is that Arctic decisions should be made by Arctic states,” Hill said. “Canada and Iceland are aligned on that. It’s our backyard.”

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Hill also pointed to growing interest in a North-to-North trade corridor, possibly connecting Iceland with Canada’s northern ports, including the Hudson Bay region in Manitoba. While the concept is still in early stages, she sees potential in future shipping and logistics partnerships — particularly as melting sea ice, though troubling, opens new transit routes.

A micro-mission with big ambitions

Hill leads a tiny embassy in Reykjavik — a so-called “micro-mission” staffed by just five local employees and herself as the lone Canadian diplomat. Despite its size, the embassy handles everything from passport emergencies (yes, including tourists who drop theirs in waterfalls) to high-level meetings on defence and diplomacy.

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“We do it all,” Hill said with a laugh. “I might meet a trade delegation in the morning and be troubleshooting IT issues in the afternoon.”

Still, Hill sees her mission clearly: To strengthen connections between two like-minded nations that value democracy, environmental stewardship and cultural heritage.

Looking ahead to her remaining three years in Iceland, she’s focused on three key goals: deepening people-to-people ties, expanding trade, and ensuring Canada is well-positioned in the Arctic.

And with her upcoming trip to Manitoba, she’s looking forward to seeing those ties in action.

“I’ve met so many Canadians here in Iceland who feel deeply connected to this place,” Hill said. “Now I get to go to Manitoba and hear that story from the other side. I think it’s going to be a very special experience.”

— Ty Dilello is a reporter for the Winnipeg Sun.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca.

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