A visit to Gimli would not be complete without having your picture taken at the Viking statue. Countless children and adults have climbed on this 15 foot fibre glass replica of a Viking of 1000 years ago. With their fiercest scowl and loudest yell, the camera would snap their presence for posterity.

The Gimli Chamber of Commerce created the Statue as their 1967 Centennial project. Under the direction of Chamber President Frank Cronshaw, the members set about to raise the necessary funds. My parents, Ted and Annie, owners of Target Store, enthusiastically agreed to assist in the fund raising. The cost was to be $15,000. About $50,000 in today’s money.

The Chamber contacted Mr Gissur Eliason, a University of Manitoba professor to design the statue. They then contacted an Italian Canadian sculptor, Mr. George Baroni to make the Statue out of fibreglass. Baroni was an excellent choice. He came well recommended, as he had sculpted many large scale works, including the King Miner in Thompson MB, and the White Horse at Saint Frances Xavier, MB.

The Statue was unveiled by Asgeir Asgeirsson, President of Iceland and Frank Cronshaw, President of the Gimli Chamber, on July 30, 1967. The statue has his back to Lake Winnipeg and he appears to be just landing. Perhaps to commemorate the first Icelandic settlers who landed here in Oct 21 1875.

A simple plaque on the statue says it all: VIKINGS. DISCOVERERS OF AMERICA 1000 AD

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July 2014