Voters in Iceland have elected a new president, and in doing so have made a Canadian woman the Nordic nation's new first lady.

Gudni Johannesson has been declared the winner of Sunday's vote, which means his wife will assume the first lady's role.

Eliza Reid — who grew up in the Ottawa Valley — met Johannesson when they were both studying history in England.

The pair moved to Iceland in 2003, married a year later and now have four children.

Reid, 40, who works as a writer and editor, recently said she believed her Canadian background helped her husband's campaign because she doesn't try to be something she's not, and that appeals to people.

Johannesson — a history professor who has never before held public office — joined the presidential race in April with a promise to restore the nation's trust in the political system after demonstrations called for the resignation of the prime minister amid a scandal involving offshore accounts.

Reid said she felt welcomed by Icelandic society and would consider it a tremendous honour to be first lady.