Listed here are contributions of a professional nature made to public organizations, government agencies, literary publications and public galleries, for the purposes of serving the community.
Public Lectures
Aside from the many readings given in a variety of settings (university halls, classrooms, bookstores, auditoriums, etc.), and the many papers presented at conferences and congresses in Canada, The United States and Europe, Gunnars has given public lectures on subjects of literature, literary history, theory and art, most recently:
"Preparing, Launching and Maintaining an Art Career." Two talks at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Gibsons, B.C., July 15 and 22, 2014.
“Understanding Contemporary Art Movements.” Seven lectures on contemporary art, presented at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Gibsons, B.C., January through July, 2011.
“Abstract Art.” Three lectures on abstract art, presented at the Gallery 5 in Roberts Creek, B.C., in December 2007.
Film
Narrator, Shipbuilder, a short film by Stephen Surjik. National Film Board of Canada, 1985.
Here is a selection of other public talks and presentations:
"Translating language; translating culture; translating civilization. On how many levels does a translation occur?" Páll Guðmundssson Memorial Scholarship Lecture Series, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. September 2005.
“Sinclair Ross: the Reissue of The Well.” Orlando Books, Edmonton, Alberta. November, 2002.
“NeWest Press, 25 Years.” Commemorative presentation. Telus Center for Professional Development, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. March 22, 2002.
“The Contribution of Icelanders to Canadian Culture.” Icelandic President’s Discussion Seminar, Terminal City Club, Vancouver, B.C. August 15, 2000.
“Narrative Strategies in Thomas King’s Green Grass, Running Water.” Teachers’ Union of Oslo, English Division. Pilestrœdet 57, Oslo. Teaching Native literature in English programs. November 12, 1998.
“The Dislocated Imagination.” The Apeiron Philosophical Society, Calgary, Alberta. November 6, 1997.
“Autobiography and Fiction.” Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, California. January, 1994.
“Ethnicity and Fiction.” Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, California. January, 1994.
“Bernskudagar as a Source of Information on the Old Women’s Culture in Iceland.” The Richard Beck Lectures. University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. October, 1990.
“Writings of Second Generation People: How do Canadian Writers Deal with Unknown Ancestry?” The Richard Beck Lectures. University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. October, 1990.
“Relationships Between the Explorations and Writings of Vilhjálmur Stefánsson and His Icelandic Saga Heritage.” The Richard Beck Lectures. University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. October, 1990.
“Poetry and the Individual Voice.” Canadian Authors’ Association, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. November, 1989.
“Icelandic Women in Canadian Politics and the Women’s Suffrage Movement.” National Democratic Party Dinner to Honor Women in the NDP. Regina, Saskatchewan. March, 1988. (Address read by NDP party member in author’s absence).
“Dorothy Livesay as Autobiographer.” Discovery Hour, Department of Archives and Special Collections, Elizabeth Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. November, 1985.
“Nordic Settlement in Greenland Between 982 and 1408.” Slide lecture. Gimli, Manitoba. September, 1983.
“The Arnamagnean Collection in Reykjavik.” Slide lecture on 14th-15th Century manuscripts of Icelandic Sagas. Department of English, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan. February, 1977.
Here is a small selection of public readings given:
Centre Culturel Canadien, Paris, France. Mavis Gallant, Kristjana Gunnars, Janice Kulyk Keefer. Friday April 22, 2005.
Winnipeg International Writers’ Festival. “Ice and Fire” Gala Reading. Planetarium Auditorium, Winnipeg, Manitoba October 13, 2000.
Winnipeg International Writers’ Festival. Artspace, Winnipeg, Manitoba. October 12, 2000.
Women’s Research Institute, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. March 7, 1997.
Les Boréales de Normandie, presentation. Caen, France. November 22, 1996.
National Library of Canada. Ottawa, Ontario. “Canada Book Week.” May 2, 1994.
University of Montreal. Montréal, Québec. Aux Canadas Conference. April 17, 1993.
Vancouver International Writers’ Festival. Vancouver, B.C. October 22 and 25, 1992.
22nd University of North Dakota Writers’ Conference. “The Literatures of Canada.” University of North Dakota, March 18-22, 1991.
World Poetry Festival. Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario. April 2-8, 1990
UNESCO Migration Conference. Glenbow Museum. In conjunction with “Ethnic Studies Conference.” Palliser Hotel, Calgary, Alberta. October, 1989.
Midwest Booksellers’ Association Book Fair. Minneapolis, Minnesota. September, 1989.
Kjarvalsstadir. Reykjavik, Iceland. August, 1982.
Juries
Kristjana Gunnars has served on numerous juries and consultation committees. Here are a few of them:
Sunshine Coast Arts Council exhibition jury member, 2013. Sechelt, B.C.
Gibsons Public Art Gallery exhibition jury, jury member for two years, 2011 and 2012. Gibsons, B.C.
Neustadt International Literary Prize, jury member for the 2004 prize. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.
Canadian Governor General’s Award for Poetry, jury member for three years. Ottawa.
Service on juries for the Alberta Book Awards and the Saskatchewan Book Awards. Edmonton, Alberta and Regina, Saskatchewan at various times over the course of twenty years.
Also: service on juries for the Archibald Lampman Awards (poetry) in Ottawa; The Canada Council Grants to Writers in Ottawa; the Kalamalka Writers Competition (poetry) in Vernon, B.C. (three times); the Grain prose poem competition in Saskatoon; the Other Voices poetry competition in Edmonton; the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in Edmonton; the Government of Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism in Edmonton; the Canadian Authors’ Association (poetry) in Ottawa; the Grain prose and poetry and postcard story competitions in Regina; as well as serving as a consultant for the Department of Multiculturalism in Ottawa and the Secretary of State Multiculturalism Directorate in Ottawa.
The following is a brief list of contributions to books in the form of introductions and afterwords:
Ross, Sinclair. The Well. Introduction by Kristjana Gunnars. Edmonton: The University of Alberta Press, 2001
Brask, Per, Ed. and Trans. Anthology of Modern Danish Literature. Introduction by Kristjana Gunnars. Ottawa: Cormorant Books, 1991.
Grove, Frederick Philip, Settlers of the Marsh. Afterword by Kristjana Gunnars. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, New Canadian Library, 1989.