February 6, 2026
They served in the air and are remembered with Manitoba’s lakes.
Behind every name is a story—some widely known, and others in danger of being slowly forgotten over time. Across Canada, place names reveal layers of history, culture, and memory. Some stories are easy to uncover with a little research; others require deeper exploration. For the museum, these names can lead us to something we have built our foundation upon—celebrating the lives and legacy of air personnel whose service and sacrifice are remembered in the landscape of the country they served.
Place names can be short—such as Uno—or long—such as Rocky Mountain House. Some describe physical features of the landscape, like Manyberries or Long Point. Others honour politicians, railway officials, and figures who shaped Canada’s development. Many names reflect the presence and contributions of Indigenous nations who called them home, such as Winnipegosis or Moosomin, while others reveal the diverse origins of settlers, including communities such as Tolstoi and Gnadenthal.
For thousands of years, the Indigenous Nations of Canada named this land in their own languages, in ways that reflected their special relationships to place, environment, and shared experience. Many of these original names endure today, while others were altered or replaced during periods of colonial settlement.
For the Royal Aviation Museum some of the most poignant place names commemorate pilots and other Air Force personnel—often unknown to the broader public—who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Canada and its values.
After the Second World War, the Geographical Board of Canada established a policy to name geographical features after Canadians who lost their lives during the conflict. Today, thousands of lakes, islands, points, and other features across the country stand as quiet memorials to the human cost of war.
Stories Hidden in Plain Sight
Long Island, Long Peninsula, and Long Point each commemorate different air personnel who served in various Halifax bomber squadrons. Their shared surname—Long—links these places in an unexpected way. Moulson Lake, commemorates Aircraftwoman Second Class Grace A. Moulson.
Some names do not immediately suggest a connection to wartime service. Silver Island, in Minuhik Lake, might appear to reference a precious metal, but it is named after Pilot Officer Robert G. E. Silver of No. 432 Squadron. Nightingale Lake and Finch Lake were not named for a birds, but for Flight Sergeant Alan D. Nightingale of No. 80 Squadron and Squadron Leader George Herbert Finch (DFC), an RCAF pilot. Courage Lake does not just commemorate the quality of character, but Sergeant William R. Courage of No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School.
Mynarski Lakes in northern Manitoba commemorates Andrew Mynarski, a Winnipeg-born airman whose extraordinary bravery during the Second World War earned him the Victoria Cross. Serving as a gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mynarski was killed in June 1944 after his Lancaster bomber was shot down over France. Despite intense flames and exploding ammunition, he attempted to rescue a trapped crewmember from the burning aircraft before parachuting from the doomed plane. He later died from his injuries.
Mynarski’s legacy is remembered not only on the map, but also in communities and institutions. At the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, his story is part of a special exhibit. In Winnipeg, Andrew Mynarski’s name also lives on through Andrew Mynarski V.C. School, ensuring that his courage and sacrifice continue to be recognized by new generations.
Two Tod Lake is unique among Manitoba’s Memorial Lakes as the only one named in honour of two individuals: identical twin brothers Warrant Officer Second Class Richard Douglas Tod and Warrant Officer Second Class Robert Ernest Tod of St. Vital, Manitoba. Born minutes apart, the brothers lived, trained, and served almost entirely in lockstep—enlisting together, receiving sequential RCAF service numbers, training side by side, and flying together with No. 75 Squadron in largely Royal New Zealand Air Force–crewed Short Stirling bombers.
As wireless operator/air gunners, the Tod twins regularly alternated positions in the aircraft, to the point where even their crewmates were often unsure who was where. They flew nearly every operation together—until their final mission.
Robert Ernest Tod was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in April 1943 for his calm, decisive actions after their aircraft was badly damaged over enemy territory. Maintaining flawless wireless contact as the bomber ditched in the English Channel, his efforts enabled a coordinated rescue that saved the entire crew—an act widely reported in Canadian newspapers at the time.
Just two months later in June 1943, the Tod brothers were lost together when their Stirling was shot down during a major Bomber Command raid on Germany. Their aircraft crashed into the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands. They died at the same moment and today lie buried side by side—twins in life, service, and sacrifice.
Because the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada focuses on aviation history, the examples highlighted here honour air personnel. However, thousands of geographical features across Canada commemorate those who served in the army and navy as well. Their contributions are equally significant in shaping the nation’s history and identity.
Perhaps the lake you visit during the summer, or your cottage is on, has its own historically significant name? Books and archival sources across Canada explore the origins of place names. Those interested in proposing a name for a geographical feature should contact their provincial naming authority, such as the Manitoba Geographical Names Board, which works in collaboration with the Geographical Names Board of Canada. This article also acknowledges The Ghost Lakes of Manitoba by Dave O’Malley. Readers interested in learning more about Manitoba’s Memorial Lakes and the individuals they commemorate are encouraged to explore this excellent work further.
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