Hometown hockey superstar Jonanthan Toews has his own, so why not Manitoba’s fallen soldiers? No, we’re not talking about the Stanley Cup, but a lake named in honour of the province’s brave men and women who sacrificed their lives overseas.
Perhaps giving in to the pressure put on the provincial government by families of deceased soldiers, Premier Greg Selinger and Lieutenant Governor Philip Lee named several lakes in honour of Manitoba members of the Armed Forces killed in Afghanistan on Thursday.
Four soldiers are being honoured with lakes in their name, which are all located 100 to 120 kilometres southeast of Thompson.
- Pte. Lane Watkins, 20, who served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), based in Edmonton, killed July 4, 2007;
- Cpl. James Arnal, 25, who served with the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI, based in Shilo, killed July 18, 2008;
- Cpl. Michael Seggie, 21, who also served with the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI, based in Shilo, killed September 3, 2008; and
- Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25, who was a member of the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, based in Petawawa, Ontario, killed January 31, 2009.
During a ceremony this morning at the Legislative Building, a Canadian flag that flew over the Khandahar air base where Canadian troops are stationed in Afghanistan was on display. The flag will remain at the Legislature until the end of day on November 11.
