History
Saga
The initiative to found the Multicultural Centre came originally from an interest group on cultural diversity in the Westfjords, later named Roots (Rætur). The representatives of the Westfjords in Althingi implemented their idea and in the year 2000 the following parliamentary resolution was approved in Althingi:
“Althingi agrees to entrust the minister of social affairs to prepare the founding of a centre for immigrants in the Westfjords, in co-operation with municipalities, the Icelandic Red Cross and the Directorate of Labour in the Westfjords. The centre’s purpose will be to facilitate communications between Icelanders and foreign citizens, to work with municipalities to enhance services for foreign citizens, to try and prevent problems in communications between individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and to facilitate the integration of foreigners into Icelandic society.” -125th assembly 1999/2000, no. 220.
The Multicultural Centre was formally opened in 2001, July 30th, by the current minister of social affairs, Páll Pétursson.
