Intrepid Icelander discovers bagels in favourite city

 

Birgir Örn Steingrimsson is graduating this spring with a Master’s of Business Administration, Executive Option. He’s carrying on the Icelandic tradition of discovering Canada that started 1,000 years ago, except instead of Newfoundland, this Reykjavík native landed in Montreal.

"I came in 1994, after some high school friends told me how wonderful the city was. I had been here for less than three days and it just felt like home. I remember standing on Ste. Catherine St. and feeling like this is where I should be."

Iceland in 1994 had yet to experience its boom in technology and tourism so it was relatively sleepy in comparison.

"Montreal is so alive and so vibrant. It’s the perfect city for a student, affordable housing, great restaurants, and a multicultural atmosphere. People here don’t realise what they have."

In 1996, Birgir graduated from Concordia with a degree in finance. He wasn’t ready to leave town, so he invested in some rental properties. Since then he has been dividing his time between his family home and adopted city, which has proven to be a bit of a juggling act.

"When I am in Montreal, I miss Iceland. I step off the plane in Reykjavík and take a deep breath of that cool, fresh air and think, This is what I have missed. But after a few days I miss Montreal, especially the restaurants."

In 2003 Birgir returned to Concordia, this time for a MBA from John Molson.

"Education always helps. You can never have too much. I would recommend the program at Concordia to anyone. Having an MBA is going to help me in my next adventure here, whatever that may be. A bagel factory is always a possibility."

Birgir will welcome family members to convocation in June and then take a long-overdue visit back to his homeland. Maybe he’ll take them some bagels.

-Shelagh McNally