Premier Greg Selinger announced Thursday morning that four northern Manitoba lakes will be named after Manitoba soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
The honoured soliders are:
- Pte. Lane Watkins, 20, who was killed in 2007.
- Cpl. James Arnal, 25, who was killed in 2008.
- Cpl. Michael Seggie, 21 who also killed in 2008.
- Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25, who was killed in 2009.
"These four individuals made the ultimate sacrifice for their province and their country," said Selinger.
The lakes named after the soldiers are located about 120 km southeast of Thompson.
In the summer, the practice of naming Manitoba lakes came under fire when the government named a lake after recent Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews.
The father of Cpl. James Arnal, Raymond Arnal, thanked the government for honouring the memory of his son.
"Knowing that his supreme sacrifice has now been recognized and acknowledged by the Manitoba government gives me a great source of pride and joy," he said.
He also addressed the controversy over naming a lake after Jonathan Toews.
"Although he may be a super sports star, he is not, in my humble opinion, a hero -- at least not in the same category as the heroes we are honouring here today. And as such, should not have been given the same recognition," said Raymond Arnal.
