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The Fjallkonur of Alberta

The title fjallkona means "maid of the mountain"; the plural is "fjallkonur". Traditionally, in Iceland, the fjallkona descends from the mountains at the celebration of Iceland's independence on June 17. The fjallkona tradition was maintained by Icelandic immigrants to North America in the late 1800s. Traditionally, a woman of repute in the community was chosen as a symbolic tribute to Iceland.

The crowning ceremony was initially held in Edmonton, with only women from Edmonton being crowned, and the coronation was in May. Since 1978, the fjallkona has been crowned at Markerville, in June. She reigns over Alberta for one year. In 1988, Donna Nelson's term was extended by a year to enable her to participate in Markerville's celebration of 100 years of settlement. The following women have been crowned fjallkona for Alberta:

1957    Irene Henrickson

1958    Illa Arnfinson

1959    Patricia Lane

1960    Freda Smith

1961    Margaret Cameron

1962    Mickey Shaw

1963    Inga Bachmann

1964    Ruth MacNaughton

1965    Shirley Thorsteinson

1966    Della Roland

1967    Ninna Campbell

1968    Johanna Couves

1969    Olive Goodman

1970    Lucille Oddson

1971    Jo Wetterburg

1972    Lillian MacPherson

1973    Elinor Farrel

1974    Thorey Greenham

1975    Guðbjorg Letourneau

1976    Shirley Thorvaldson

1977    Shirley Lundberg

1978    Rosa Benediktson (M)

1979    Margrét Geppert (C)

1980    June Parker (E)

1981    Bernice Anderson (M)

1982    Lil Hiebert (C)

1983    Margret Duncombe & Ninna Campbell (E)

1984    Sandy Bourse (M)

1985    Ragnheiður Gunnarsson (C)

1986    Gloria Krenbrenk (E)

1987    Donna Nelson (M)

1988    Donna Nelson (M)

1989    Mary Stewart (C)

1990    Allison King (E)

1991    Fretha (Dolly) Stephanson (M)

1992    Freda Abrahamson (C)

1993    Judith Johnsson (E)

1994    Dorothy Murray (M)

1995    Thordis Gutnik (C)

1996    Joanne Olafson (E)

1997    Evelyn Johannson (M)

1998    Eleanor Oltean (C)

1999    Shirley Dye (M)

2000    Helga Rennie (E)

2001    Alda Sigvaldason (C)

2002    Marie Sveinson (M)

2003    Connie Clark (E)

2004    Margaret Grisdale (C)

2005    Helen Johannson (M)

2006    Julie Sopher (E)

2007    Iris Torfason (C)

2008    Betty Wiegl (M)

2009    Lorraine Ilnicki (E)

2010    Agnes Cooke (C)