**Never Miss a Blog Post: Subscribe to Icelandic Roots!**

Are you eager to stay informed about all things Icelandic? Look no further than the Icelandic Roots newsletter! Our dedicated team of authors and guest writers brings you insightful and engaging content on various topics related to Icelandic culture, history, travel, famous people, language, genealogy, and upcoming events.

Subscribe Today!

By David Johnson An anniversary worth commemorating and celebrating! While travelling in Iceland this summer, a visit to the Icelandic Emigration Centre in Hofsós is a must. 2026 marks 30 years since Valgeir Þorvaldsson’s dream of a place in Iceland where the story of why so many Icelanders left for the Western Hemisphere became a reality. And with the birth of that reality, the old section of the village of Hofsós has also been revived. A celebratory event is scheduled for

By Rob Olason (I149007) In the January 18, 2026, edition of the Icelandic Roots newsletter, Rætur Fréttir/Roots News , I published the article, “The Icelandic Roots 2026 Focus.” Each year the newsletter team picks a theme to emphasize when we gather articles from our contributing authors. We intend that this sustained exploration of a topic over the course of a year will provide our readers with a deeper understanding of this aspect of Icelandic heritage. The 2026 focus is on

A part of the Icelandic Roots Settlement theme of 2026 is exploring the areas where our ancestors arrived and settled in North America. The Washington Island community received its first Icelandic settlers in 1870. Descendants of those settlers are still there today. Have a look around... Washington Island and neighbouring Rock Island to the northeast are where many Scandinavians settled and raised their families upon arrival to North America in the 19 th century. The Icel

February's IR Book Club with Guest Karen Gummo: A Journey Through Icelandic Heritage Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter by Laura Goodman Salverson Born in Winnipeg on December 9, 1890, Icelandic Roots members can locate the author in the Icelandic Roots database as Lára Gudmundsson IR# I22876736. Her parents emigrated from Reykjavík in 1887. Laura won the prestigious Canadian Governor General’s literary award in 1939 for Confessions of an Immigrant's Daughter . This book

By Blair Swanson and Becky Byerly-Adams During November Icelandic Roots pays tribute to our ancestors who arrived in North America from Iceland just years before the call came to support World War One. We honor the dedication and commitment these soldiers gave, some paying the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget. Many people of Icelandic descent have served in the military of Canada and the United States. Respect is paid annually in honour of our militaries on Remembrance Day

Two busloads of IR volunteers and members have just returned from Iceland as we traveled for twelve unforgettable days of heritage,...

A translation of a diary from Icelandic to English for the emigration of Sveinn Árnason in 1889.