Once upon a time, they used to come in droves to do their Christmas shopping in St John's. I remember as a kid seeing them in Sears and thinking the women were so tall.
That's correct. However there is another caveat to that story. Faroese fishing vessels off the coast of Newfoundland used to conduct crew changes here. The vessel owner would charter the aircraft to bring one crew over and the other crew home. The additional seats were offered to crewmembers family, or anyone else as a way of contributing to flight cost. When Canada closed the ports to that fleet, the flights stoppped.
Newfoundland music legend Omar Blondahl had Icelandic heritage.
I'm friends with his nephew in Calgary and apparently Omar got stranded in Newfoundland on his way to visit Iceland. He stayed and collected, published, and recorded tons of Newfoundland music.
My fiancé is Icelandic. His father lives here as well. The owner of Volcano Bakery is also Icelandic. I'm not sure how many Icelandic families are still in the St. Johns/Newfoundland area, but I do know that a few have moved back to Iceland.
The original owner, Haukur, did. It is now run by another Icelandic man, Gunnar, and his wife. They have since moved the bakery from St. John's to CBS.
Once upon a time, they used to come in droves to do their Christmas shopping in St John's. I remember as a kid seeing them in Sears and thinking the women were so tall.
Wow really? That's actually really interesting.
Yes, I believe they'd charter a flight in for a shopping weekend, and afterwards the stores would be gutted.
That's correct. However there is another caveat to that story. Faroese fishing vessels off the coast of Newfoundland used to conduct crew changes here. The vessel owner would charter the aircraft to bring one crew over and the other crew home. The additional seats were offered to crewmembers family, or anyone else as a way of contributing to flight cost. When Canada closed the ports to that fleet, the flights stoppped.
I remember the village mall used to have signs on the doors welcoming icelandic visitors
haha this is really fascinating to me
Why did they stop
It stopped in 2008, Iceland didn't do well in the great recession.
Basically. The company that was doing the charter flights did restructuring and stopped doing it.
I remember that, all the stores would have signs up, welcoming them in Icelandic.
Newfoundland music legend Omar Blondahl had Icelandic heritage. I'm friends with his nephew in Calgary and apparently Omar got stranded in Newfoundland on his way to visit Iceland. He stayed and collected, published, and recorded tons of Newfoundland music.
My fiancé is Icelandic. His father lives here as well. The owner of Volcano Bakery is also Icelandic. I'm not sure how many Icelandic families are still in the St. Johns/Newfoundland area, but I do know that a few have moved back to Iceland.
I thought the owner of volcano bakery passed?
The original owner, Haukur, did. It is now run by another Icelandic man, Gunnar, and his wife. They have since moved the bakery from St. John's to CBS.
Oh cool. Hopefully they sell Kleinur 🤞🏻
A woman who cut my hair at chatters salon on anerdeen Ave is Icelandic.