Dalman Store

For almost 50 years Bjarni Dalman was an important member of the Icelandic community in Selkirk.

Bjarni Einarsson Dalman was born on September 26^th, 1869, around Miklaholt, Iceland. His mother was named Gudridur and his father Einar. He had one sister named Guorun and a brother whose name was Gudleifur.

The family immigrated from Iceland to Canada on April 10, 1893. After arriving in Halifax, they moved to Manitoba, where they lived near Sandy Bar. When Bjarni was around 23 years old he moved to Selkirk with his family.

Throughout most of his life Bjarni lived with family members. He lived with his parents for many years, and then with his sister once she was married and had her own home. The family was extremely close, always working together and helping one another. Around 1916 Bjarni lived as a boarder for a time on Robinson Avenue.

Bjarni owned a store in Selkirk, named B. Dalman, at the corner of Main Street and Manitoba Avenue. The earliest record of the store is found in the 1901 census where Bjarni is listed as a merchant who owned his own business. But it is likely he had started the store a few years before.

In 1903 Bjarni bought a set of weigh scales for the store from S.F. Roberts, owner of another grocery store in Selkirk. A range of goods were sold at B. Dalman, such as clothing for all ages, fabric, fresh fruit, baled hay, and dry goods.

On November 18^th, 1908, there was a robbery at the store. The store was broken into during the night. Luckily, not much was stolen, except for some spare change. The store was again robbed on September 17^th, 1925. The robbers stole a large amount of groceries but were unable to get into the till – which was very lucky because Bjarni had been away from the store that day and his staff had left all the revenue in the till awaiting Bjarni’s return.

For a while Bjarni’s brother, Gudleifur, was a partner of the store. Bjarni continued to own and operate the store into 1927.

The store was sold in 1928 and under new owners became the Economy Sales Company. At that time Bjarni began work as an agent for Great West Life Assurance.

Beyond living and working in Selkirk, Bjarni was involved and dedicated to the Selkirk community. He was on town council for 20 years and served on the Hospital council for 15 years.

Bjarni was a long-time member of the Icelandic Patriotic Department in Selkirk and was the president of the group at the time of his death.