Fjallkona

Tami Schirlie (nee Jakobson) 2017 Fjallkona

Tami Mia Schirlie (nee Jakobson) is a third generation Icelandic Canadian from a family that cherished their Icelandic roots and had a commitment to promoting the Canadian Icelandic community and Icelandic culture and heritage in general.

She is the daughter of Brian Larus & Vivienne Doreen Jakobson (nee Magnusson) and the grand-daughter of Steindor and Halldora Jakobson (nee Goodman) / Haraldur and Ingibjorg Magnusson (nee Oddson), and sister to Tara Maria Jakobson. Tami and her husband Gord live in Winnipeg, enjoy cottage country on the weekends, and travel when they can.

Tami is a graduate of River East Collegiate in Winnipeg, holds a Bachelor Degree in Human Ecology from the University of Manitoba, has a Supply Chain Management Professional designation, and is a ISKF Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in karate.

As a child she spent her summers at the family cottage in Gimli and participated in Icelandic language camp, Icelandic choir, and of course the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba where as a nine year old took on the task of selling souvenir programs in the park with a passion. From that point on Tami has devoted a large part of her volunteer life to promoting and ensuring the sustainability of the Icelandic Festival.

Being a life member of the Icelandic Festival, Tami has served in nearly all capacities over the past 35 years. She has chaired many committees, served on the board of directors, and twice was an attendant to the Fjallkona.  In 2006 and  2007 she followed in the footsteps of her father and afi and served as President and now is also a third generation Fjallkona, following her mother and her amma and keeping up a unique family tradition of service to the Icelandic community.

Tami has visited Iceland twice. First as a child in 1977, she had the opportunity to meet relatives and discover her Icelandic roots. Then again in 2006 as the President of the Icelandic Festival, she had the honour to represent Manitoba’s Icelandic community promoting the continuance of Western Icelandic culture during meetings with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, President of the Althing, and Canada’s Ambassador to Iceland.   

Tami is honoured and humbled to serve as Fjallkona for 2017 and very proud to be able to represent her Icelandic heritage at Islendingadagurinn this year.