Fjallkona
In 1924, the tradition of selecting a woman to be the Fjallkona began. The Fjallkona (Maid of the Mountain) is Iceland, and the Icelanders are her children. Mrs. Sigrun Lindal became the first Fjallkona of Islendingadagurinn. At the festival, the selected woman sits on her elevated throne, clad in the beautiful and dignified formal Icelandic costume of a white gown, green robe with ermine, golden belt, high-crowned headdress and white veil falling over the shoulders to the waist. Two maids of honour, formerly clad in plain Icelandic costume with tasseled skullcaps, are now dressed in white. In former years, these maids of honour were known as Miss Canada and Miss America.
Download the Fjallkona Nomination Form.
Learn more about the Fjallkona Walkway in Viking Park.
Janice Arnason 2022-2023 Fjallkona
Janice Arnason is an Educator and musician, born and raised in Minerva at Viðivollum, settled by Magnus and Emmarentiana Narfason in 1897. Icelandic was the first language of her parents, Oli and Guðny Johnson Narfason, and Janice grew up immersed in Icelandic culture and heritage.
Music has long been a part of Janice’s life. She belonged to Anna Steven’s Icelandic Children’s choir and has sung the Icelandic folksongs into her adult life, teaching them to her daughters and nieces. Her nieces: Avery Porteous and Hana Arnason-McNeil, will serve as her attendants.
Janice has been involved with the Icelandic Festival for over 40 years. She’s a former committee chair, board member, past president, and a long-time volunteer. She is pleased that her son, Stefan Arnason, has recently joined the Icelandic Festival Board of Directors, following in the footsteps of her and her husband, Cameron Arnason.
Janice has been an integral part of many Islendingadagurinn events including the New Iceland’s Children’s Choir, Music and Poetry in the Park, Music on the Rooftop, the Culture and Heritage Pavilion, Fashion Show, Gala, and Celebrity Concert.
She is an amazing volunteer and community member. In addition to her work with the festival, she’s a member of the Executive and assists with music for services for the Unitarian Church in Gimli. She’s a board member for the Evergreen Festival of the Arts and assists with the Evergreen Band Boosters. She was a committee chair for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, TSN Curling Skins and Relay for Life. She currently helps to administer the Westshore Foundation's Community Arts Fund, established by Oli and Marg Narfason.
Past Fjallkonur
Creative Memories Exhibit - Pictures and stories of past Fjallkonur.
- 2021 - Anna Stevens
- 2020 - Anna Stevens
- 2019 - Margaret Thorlakson Kernested
- 2018 - Wanda Josephson Anderson
- 2017 - Tami Jakobson Schirlie
- 2016 - Karen Borgford Botting
- 2015 - Linda Sigurdson Collette
- 2014 - Hedy Gudrun Bjornson
- 2013 - Maxine Helgason Ingalls
- 2012 - Constance Magnusson Schimnowski
- 2011 - Vi Bjarnason Hilton
- 2010 - Helga Malis
- 2009 - Elva Jonasson
- 2008 - Alma Sigurdson
- 2007 - Rosalind Vigfusson
- 2006 - Erla Helgason Wankling
- 2005 - Benna Martin
- 2004 - Thelma Wilson
- 2003 - Sigrid Johnson
- 2002 - Constance Carol Magnusson
- 2001 - Margaret Wishnowski
- 2000 - Lenore Good
- 1999 - Helga Anderson
- 1998 - Lois Olafson
- 1997 - Lorna Joyce Tergesen
- 1996 - Valgerdur Mae Westdal
- 1995 - Gudrun Gislason
- 1994 - Dilla Sigurlina Narfason
- 1993 - Shirley Norma McCreedy
- 1992 - Gudny Thorunn Cronshaw
- 1991 - Johanna Gudrun Wilson
- 1990 - Sylvia Sigurdson
- 1989 - Lilia Arnason
Past Maids/Attendants
2020
- Ainsley Gretchen
- Hailey Jones
2019
- Julia Roberts
- Emily Roberts
2018
- Stephanie Johnson
- Willow Josephson
2017
- Rhys John Welham
- Carly Constance Welham
2016
- Kristín Arnarsdóttir
- Erika Sigurlin Thorsteinson
2015
- Hanna Elizabeth Helga Sigurdson
- Mackenzie Collette
2004
- Thelma Bjork Wilson
- Anjolene Rose Kathryn Hunt
2003
- Meghan Sproule
- Britany Maguet
2002
- Dayna Gudrun Gendron
- Vanessa Bryce Gendron
2001
- Gillian Robinson
- Anna Davidson
2000
- Elin Catherine Sigurdson
- Sonja June Sigurdson
1999
- Jennifer Kristin Rebillard
- Lara Arnason
1998
- Reyna Lois Jenkyns
- Victoria Sparks
1997
- Sigrid Bergen Stefanson
- Lana Leigh Goodman
1996
- Kimberley Westdal
- Kristin Westdal
1995
- Erin Gudmundson
- Lauren Palsson
1994
- Signy Arnason
- Amber Narfason
1993
- Elin Lara Thordarson
- Caitlin Mairi McCreedy Spauls
1992
- Fern Alexandra Cronshaw
- Jenna Lynn Rempel
1991
- Dawn Janine Rothwell
- Dianne Elizabeth Drawbridge
1990
- Julianna Carol Gudbjartson
- Kristin Good
1989
- Sandra Dorothy McEwen
- Michelle Karen Wilcox
1988
- Linda Fay Collette
- Sandra Julia Heidrick
1987
- Deidre Fay Collette
- Elizabeth Sandra Heidrick
1986
- Joanne Lynn Lindal
- Marlene Gladys McGill
1985
- Tami Mia Jakobson
- Tara Maria Jakobson
1984
- Tami Mia Jakobson
- Tara Maria Jakobson
1983
- Bonnie Martin
- Nielle Johnson
1982
- Not available at this time.
1981
- Kristine (Arnason) Becker
- Karen Olson
1980
- Not available at this time.
1979
- Susan Lynne Holm
- Jo-Ann Sigrud Magnusson
1978
- Not available at this time.
1977
- Cheryl Riglin
- Jona Riglin
1976
- Susan Bjarnason
- Ingrid Sigurdson
1975
- Tracy Arnason
- Christy Arnason
1974
- Thora Jakobson
- Irene Jakobson
1973
- Debbie Arnason
- Sharon Stevens
1972
- Pamela Maureen Downey
- Katherine Joyce Young
1971
- Not available at this time.
1970
- Joan Valdina Johnson
- Maureen Lenore Olafson
Government of Canada
Government of Iceland
Government of Manitoba
RM of Gimli