Sendiráð Íslands - Ottawa, Kanada

As a modern globalised economy and an active participant in EU´s single market, Iceland was among the first to become seriously hit in this unprecedented financial crisis.

The global financial crisis has hit Icelandic families hard, many have lost their lifesavings and others are at risk of losing their homes. Ordinary Icelanders are now faced with bleak economic prospects even though they were not responsible for the banking crisis: inflation is in the double-digits, external debt is increasing, and unemployment is rising.

Ambassador Markús Örn Antonsson has been appointed Director of the National Heritage Centre in Iceland from Sept. 1, 2008. Accordingly, he and his wife Steinunn Ármannsdóttir are leaving their posting in Ottawa this week.

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Canadian businesses and investors will get a closer look at opportunities in relations with the EFTA states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, through the planned road-show in October-November

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During their visit to British Columbia at the end of May, the Ambassador of Iceland and his wife visited the Höfn-Icelandic Harbour Home for Assisted Living in Vancouver and met with residents and the Icelandic-Canadian board members.

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Ambassador Markús Örn Antonsson visited Prince Edward Island on May 7 and 8 where he was received by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province; the Premier, the Speaker of the Legislature and the Mayor of Charlottetown.

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The inception of Icelandair's direct flights between Iceland and Canada this summer marks the beginning of a new era in relations between the two countries.

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Iceland and Canada are preparing a bilateral agreement on security and defence cooperation. This was one of the subjects discussed by the Icelandic Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when they met in Ottawa on April 17 2008.

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Interest in trade between Iceland and Newfoundland and Labrador has been steadily mounting in recent years and the two jurisdictions have now formalized this interest with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

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At a ceremony held in Toronto April 13, the Embassy of Iceland and the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto honoured four Icelandic-Canadians in Ontario who were recently appointed to the Order of Canada.

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The Embassy of Iceland in Ottawa in cooperation with the Iceland Tourist Board and the Trade Council of Iceland participated in the Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show held April 5 and 6 at the Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park in Canada’s capital city.

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Business school students from 12 foreign countries assembled at the Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, March 12 to 15 to compete in a case study featuring the Icelandic Kaupthing Bank’s acquisition of the Singer Friedland Financial Group in Britain.

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Iceland boasts an impressive cultural reservoir of famous musicians and filmmakers, and a reputation for world-class cuisine that rivals any city in the world.

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Glaciologist and writer Dr. Jack D. Ives was honoured at a special ceremony in the Embassy residence in Ottawa on 17 January 2008 to mark the publication of his new book about the Skaftafell National Park in Iceland. On the same occasion, Dr. Ives was congratulated on the recent presentation of the Order of the Falcon to him by the President of Iceland.

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Do you like to meet people and make new friends? Stay with Icelandic relatives? Learn about Icelandic culture and language? Travel around Iceland´s most exotic spots?

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SAW Video (Ottawa) and the Images Festival (Toronto) present: "Heima"- a film by Icelandic band Sigur Rós, Friday 28 December 2007, 11:15 PM screening at the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank Street in Ottawa. 

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The Images Festival in Toronto presents the Canadian Premiere of: Heima – a film by Sigur Rós. Friday 23 November 2007 and Saturday 24 November 2007.

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Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, delivered her first address on foreign affairs to the Icelandic Parliament on November 8 2007. The complete speech can be reached at:

http://www.mfa.is/speeches-and-articles/nr/3965

Four Icelandic delegates attended the 53^rd General Assembly of the The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) which was held in Ottawa October 31-November 2, 2007. During the conference they met Canadian Minister of National Defence, Mr. Peter MacKay.

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On Sunday September 30, 2007, 27 descendants of Icelandic immigrants to Canada and beyond gathered with supporting friends to celebrate their heritage, with Markús Örn Antonsson, the Icelandic Ambassador to Canada, Gail Einarson- McCleery, Consul of Iceland in Toronto and Kara Schuster, President of the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto.

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The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies invites applications for the Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Fellowships for 2008.

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The Prime Minister of Iceland Geir H. Haarde met with Premier Danny Williams and other provincial officials of Newfoundland Labrador in St. John´s on July 30 and 31 to discuss issues of mutual interest.

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Iceland’s Prime Minister Mr. Geir H. Haarde and his wife Mrs. Inga Jóna Thórdardóttir visited Nova Scotia and Newfoundland July 28 to August 1 and met with a number of government officials in both provinces.

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Two young women from Iceland spent six weeks this summer in Québec and Ontario on the Snorri West program for young Icelanders

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An enjoyable theme event at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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Concerts planned in 12 Canadian and US cities in April and May 2007

Called for prompt conclusion of a free trade agreement between EFTA and Canada

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The Icelandic “Rúmfatalagerinn” owns and operates 29 stores in Canada under the franchised name “Jysk”.

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