From Rival Voices to a Shared Legacy: The Story of Lögberg-Heimskringla and the Birth of Canada's Oldest Ethnic Newspaper

Authors

  • Katrín Níelsdóttir University of Manitoba

Keywords:

Lögberg-Heimskringla, Stefan Jonasson, Einar Hörðleifsson Kvaran, Freeman Anderson, Eggert Johansson, Einar Hörðleifsson, Dr. P.H.T. Thorlakson, Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Unitarian Church, cultural preservation, community journalism, Canada Iceland Foundation, ethnic newspaper, Lögberg, Heimskringla

Abstract

This article traces the rich and complex history of Lögberg-Heimskringla, Canada’s oldest continuously published ethnic newspaper, which emerged from the merger of two rival Icelandic-language papers—Lögberg and Heimskringla. Based on a 2025 interview with long-time editor Stefan Jonasson, the piece explores how these publications reflected the political, religious, and cultural divisions of the Icelandic immigrant community in North America.

Heimskringla, founded in 1886, and Lögberg, launched two years later, were ideological opposites: Heimskringla leaned Conservative and Unitarian, while Lögberg aligned with the Liberal Party and Lutheran traditions. Their rivalry helped sustain vibrant journalism but also mirrored the fragmentation within the Icelandic diaspora. By the mid-20th century, shifting demographics, declining readership, and new media technologies made continued competition unsustainable.

Following failed attempts to unite the papers in the 1940s and 1950s, the 1959 merger was finally realized with the support of prominent community leaders. The merger marked a symbolic reconciliation and preserved the Icelandic-Canadian print tradition.

Over time, the paper transitioned from a monolingual Icelandic publication to a bilingual, and eventually predominantly English-language, newspaper reflecting the generational language shift among readers. While it once preserved the Icelandic language, its greater legacy lies in its role as a cultural bridge.

Today, Lögberg-Heimskringla appeals to both those of Icelandic descent and others interested in Icelandic culture, and it continues to evolve—shifting toward a magazine format and broader cultural storytelling. Jonasson, nearing retirement, reflects positively on the merger’s enduring impact, emphasizing that the paper’s adaptability has been key to its longevity.

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Published

04.01.2026

Issue

Vol. 75 (2025): 150 Year Issue

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Katrín Níelsdóttir

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