From the feature wall at the Gimli New Iceland Museum
 

A group of us attended a seminar put on by Pier 21 of Halifax, at the New Iceland Museum in Gimli. Pier 21 is where millions of immigrants were processed on their arrival to Canada.

The group consisted of Mae Peiluk, Vi Bjarnason-Hilton, Harvey Benson, Robert Kristjanson, Metta Johnson, Ole Narfason, Gunnvor Asmundson, Elva Simundson, Begga Josavinsdottir and me. The people who put on the seminar were gathering stories about immigrants and their descendants from Iceland. We even had in our group a recent arrival from Iceland - Begga. The Pier 21 group of three, Mathew Ritchie, Emmy Pantin and Jennifer LaFontaine, are traveling across Canada talking to other ethnic groups about their experiences in the new land. They put us at ease immediately - very professional and patient. Tammy Axelson and Ila Condi of the Museum also made us welcome and provided lunch and coffee. As a side comment, I must say every time I visit the Museum I learn something new about my family.

We were to tell our stories in a group setting. The group explained individually how their ancestors, and they themselves experienced life in various Icelandic settlements in Canada. Ole Narfason was telling the story of a man who picked up the mail at the C.P.R. Station at 7:10 p.m. every evening. He would load it on his horse drawn wagon. Then, with whip in hand, would gallop to the Post Office which was situated where the Resorts Hotel is now, on Centre And First Ave. The mail was always sorted by 8:00 p.m. Going to the Post Office and getting your mail, or seeing who was getting mail, was a big happening in Gimli. Ole mentioned the man’s name - Elli Click - and I started to laugh.

Growing up in Gimli I soon learned that people’s names were not always their real names. It was the custom to give “by names” or nick names. The practice still exists in Canada. Stomping Tom comes to mind. Some nick names I recall from my childhood days:

Jon Hikes - John the walker
Mary step and a Half - Mary with the bad leg
Ole Knee High - Ole who always wore knee high socks
Gisli Brass - Gisli the Confident one
Helgi Highway - Helgi who owned the Highway Garage

The list is endless and very humorous. Elli Click got his name because he had a set of “store bought” false teeth. I guess they didn't fit too well so they clicked constantly. He was forever known simply as Elli Click.

Elli was a widower and he loved to drink coffee and play cards. When my parents were first married, they rented his house. As newlyweds, card playing was one of the few things they could afford to do. The economic depression or "dirty thirties" was making life miserable. Elli would come to visit my parents in the evening for late coffee and cards. After he passed away, my parents would sometimes be awakened by the coffee pot rattling on the stove. And from the direction of the chair were he always sat, could be heard the distinctive clicking of teeth.

My parents would simply say “Ekki Noona Elli”  - (not now, Elli) and all would be quiet.

Ken Kristjanson
April 2013