OTTAWA — An interactive online map, released in conjunction with Remembrance Day, recognizes members of the military whose service to the country has left their names attached to lakes, rivers, islands and other geographic features.
Canada's Commemorative Map currently shows 450 place names including approximately two dozen in northwestern Ontario.
Killins Township, near Wawa, is named after Private Alfred Earl Killins, who died in action in northwest France on August 5, 1944 at the age of 22.
He was the son of Earl and Roxey Killins of Nolalu, and served with the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor).
Pte. Killins is also commemorated on the Lake Superior Regiment's war memorial in Thunder Bay.
He's buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian war cemetery in Calvados, France.
Other geographical features across northwestern Ontario honouring Canada's war dead include:
- Burrow Lake
- Knight Lake
- Weatherall Lake
- Dockrey Islands
- Donnet Lake
- Ypres Point
- Cooney Lake
- Chipchase Lake
- Beeswax Lake
- Donson Lake
- Lusty Lake
- Stevens Lake
- Bowern Lake
- Maxwell Lake
- MacDowell Lake
- MacDowell River
- Maxwell Island
- McGuire Island
- Coones Bay
- Graham Island
- Irvine Lake
- Bishop Lake
Bishop Lake is named for First World War ace Billy Bishop.
"This map represents a way to forever tie Canada's land, rivers and oceans to those who served in defence of our values and democratic principles," said Amarjeet Sohi, the minister of Natural Resources.
The map will be updated on an ongoing basis. Members of the public who would like to contribute names to the project may contact the Geographical Names Board of Canada Secretariat at Natural Resources Canada.
