A bronze monument to Icelandic explorer Leifur Eiríksson, who is said to have ‘discovered’ America in the year 1000, by Icelandic sculptor Ívar Valgarðsson, was unveiled in Quebec City, Canada, on May 20.
The monument is mounted on aluminum sheets with an engraved text explaining who the Viking was and why Iceland and Quebec have such a good relationship, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Iceland Marie Morneau, APR, wrote in a press release.
Launched in 2007 by the then Ambassador to Iceland in Canada, Markús Antonsson, the project was originally supposed to be a contribution to the 400th anniversary of Quebec City in 2008. However, it was delayed because of the economic collapse in Iceland in October that year.
Now, with the aid of current Ambassador Sturla Sigurjónsson, the project has finally been completed.
Made by the Inverness Foundry in Canada, the monument is the same as the one to Leifur Eiríksson which is located at Keflavík International Airport. Known as Leifsstöð in Icelandic, the airport was named after the explorer.
