About Viking Park
Megi tengslin á milli Íslands og Nýja Íslands, ávalt verða farsæl
May the connections between Iceland and New Iceland be forever celebrated
The Viking Park Story
In 2014, Islendingadagurinn commemorated 125 years of celebrating Icelandic history, culture, and its contribution to life in Manitoba. In honour of this milestone anniversary, the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba’s 125 Legacy Cabinet Committee worked with our partners, the R.M. of Gimli and Betel Home Foundations to create Viking Park (completed in 2017) and the Viking Park Connectivity Project. (completed in 2021). Consultation and support from residents, cottagers, visitors and others help to forge these uniquely Icelandic spaces.
Viking Park is comprised of fully accessible walkways that are inscribed with commemorative messages and greetings from supporters who donated to make the park a reality. Visitors can now walk among trolls, elves and portions of the old breakwater set among gardens filled with Indigenous plants, grasses and flowers. The park has been described as a ‘gem’ in Manitoba, reflecting the history and culture of the community, and tells the story of Gimli and its Icelandic heritage on a backlit heritage wall.
The Connectivity Project began in 2017 after the completion of Viking Park and is every bit as meaningful. The project connects Viking Park to the main harbour area in Gimli. These tree-lined pathways and sidewalks provide safer passage in a park-like setting. The Breakwater Timber Boardwalk, and special commemorative areas such as the rejuvenated Cenotaph and the creation of the Fjallkona Walkway, are expressions of the unique culture and heritage of Gimli. Wayfinding markers make the town easier to navigate and add charm to Gimli’s attractive downtown.
Over the course of the seven-year campaign, the Viking Park Campaign Cabinet raised approximately $2.3 million. The cost of both Viking Park phases totalled close to $2 million. Additional monies were used for campaign costs, an irrigation system for Viking Park, special events during the IFM’s 125th celebrations and investment in the festival itself. Approximately $100,000 of the funds raised was directed toward the IFM’s endowments.
In 2020 the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba created the Fjallkona Walkway in Viking Park as a lasting tribute to the Fjallkonur.
The Fjallkona are represented on a Settlement Marker located near the east entrance to Viking Park. The marker shares the story of the Fjallkona. The Fjalikona Walkway, a timber boardwalk, begins at the Marker and continues North along the path. Stainless steel plaques list the name of each Fjallkonur, Past and Present, and the year they were crowned. Space has been left available to add the names of Future Fjallkona.
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is grateful to its partners: the Government of Iceland, the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and partners, Betel Home Foundation and the R.M. of Gimli.
Viking Park and the Connectivity Project have created storied canvasses to mark meaningful moments in our lives.
For more information, please contact the office at (204) 642-7417 or [email protected]
Campaign Cabinet Co-Chairs: Grant Stefanson and Kathi Thorarinson Neal
Campaign Members: J.Timothy Samson, Tim Arnason, Arni Thorsteinson, Ernest Stefanson and Lorna Tergesen. Dr. Ken Thorlakson (Advisor).
Fjallkona Walkway Fundraising Committee Members: past Fjalikonur Margaret Thorlakson Kernested, Wanda Anderson, Karen Botting, Lorna Tergesen, and the late Tami Schirlie Jakobson.
