Mr. Speaker, one of the great local heroes of Markerville, Alberta, is renowned Icelandic poet Stephan G. Stephansson. Born into poverty in northern Iceland in 1853, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1873 and then in 1889 to his Markerville home.
Farmer by day and prolific poet by night, he composed verse, not in English but in his native Icelandic. He has been called the greatest poet of the western world, having published more than 2,000 pages of high-standard poetry. The local Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society, formed 50 years ago, restored the original home site, which is now an Alberta provincial historical site. The Writers' Guild of Alberta annually presents the Stephan G. Stephansson award in Stephansson's honour as it celebrates this amazing poet and playwright.
Recently, Donna Nelson, volunteer extraordinaire, was recognized for her exemplary contribution to the preservation and presentation of Alberta's heritage. Congratulations to Donna.