On Thursday, May 3, 1956, Eriksdale hosted the Regional Chamber
of Commerce Conference, at which time Oli Hallson was a featured speaker, along
with Hon. R.W. Bend, Minister of Health for the Province of Manitoba. Following
are the introductory remarks presented prior to Mr. Hallson's address and
printed in a booklet along with Mr. Hallson's address and Hon. R.W. Bend's
address .....................
"An unplanned for, but highly delightful, feature of
the Inter-Lake area Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference, held at Eriksdale
on May 3, l956, was an inspiring message given by one of the pioneer residents
of the district, Mr. O. Hallson.
"Born in Iceland in 1885, Mr. Hallson, first came to
the Inter-Lake district with his parents in 1903 where the family settled at
"The Narrows" on Lake Manitoba.
Following a four year visit back in Iceland, Mr. Hallson returned to
Canada in 1910 and settled at "Fourth Siding", which after the later
extension of the railway north from Oak Point was given the new name of
Eriksdale.
"Here, Mr. Hallson, built the first home on the new
townsite and opened an implement and general store business, raised a family of
one son and three daughters, and over the years carried on actively until his
retirement in 1953.
"Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Hallson has displayed
those qualities of good citizenship for which our Western pioneers have become
famous. He believed in Canada and he
had faith in the Inter-Lake district and devoted himself unselfishly to
everything that was good for the district.
He was an active member of the first Eriksdale Board of Trade and served
as a director for many years. He is a
member of the Loyal Orange Order and the Masonic fraternity, and served as a
School Trustee with distinction; and as a devout Christian shared his blessings
of time and talent with the community through long participation on the Board
of the Presbyterian Church (now the United Church) of which he continues as an
Elder.
"True to the characteristics of the Icelandic people -
their love of native land - its laws, literature and traditions - Mr. Hallson
has exemplified these qualities in his contributions to community service and
the life of the Eriksdale district has been made the richer through his having
lived there.
"The Chambers of Commerce of Manitoba salute Mr.
Hallson as typical of those great Canadians who have contributed of their best
- in a meaningful and effective way - to the progress of the life of one of our
well established communities. Such
contributions as these, in sum total, account for the greatness of Manitoba and
our mighty Dominion of Canada."
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