I know I have posted two posts about Jonathan Toews already, but there's just so much in the news about him these days that I can't help posting about him.
The following three paragraphs contain information derived from the Ottawa Citizen
website. The latest news on Jonathan Toews is that a Canadian military family who has lost their son in Afghanistan is upset than Jonathan Toews got a lake named after him. Shirley Seggie, Mother of Cpl. Michael James Alexander Seggie, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, says "While it is commendable that Jonathan Toews has accomplished so much in his short life thus far, I feel it is a travesty that he has had a lake named after him." Shirley Seggie went on to say "Our son Cpl. Michael James Alexander Seggie was killed in Afghanistan in 2008...thus far there has been no
lake named after him despite a program that is in place to name lakes after military personnel killed in action."
The program Seggie refers to is Manitoba's Commemorative Names Project, a program that's sole purpose is to name geographic pieces after dead soldiers. Interestingly enough, Seggie's son will be one of the five soldiers that Manitoba will honour this coming November. According to Manitoba's Chief of Protocol, Dwight Macaulay,"Every Manitoban soldier who is killed in battle is automatically nominated for a geographic feature" Macaulay also said "but under a national policy there is a mandated three-year wait period before we can go about naming. Macaulay also mentioned that despite the policy, Manitoba doesn't necessarily follow the rules.Macaulay also said "There can be horrific grief after tragedy,that a lot of us can't even comprehend," he said. "Although everyone deals with their grief differently, I think it was to give a respectful length of time to heal to commemorate them."
The last time Manitoba appointed this honour was back in 2002 when Queen Elizabeth was permitted to name some of Manitoba's prairie landscape after her grandchildren as part of her golden jubilee tour. However, many Winnipeggers are trying to counter the backlash against Toews' lake dedication,saying the honour is well deserved. Michael Epp wrote in a letter to the Winnipeg Free Press "It's really disheartening to read all of the negativity surrounding Jonathan Toews and the honours that have been recently bestowed upon him," Epps also wrote "Finally a feel-good story that is good for the city and the province comes out and people are so quick to bash it."
Personally I think that it is very premature to name a lake after Toews right now or to give him any sort of municipal, provincial, or national honour, but to me he will be deserving of such an honour if his career continues down such an illustrious path.
What happens if he gets injured next season and can't play a game ever again? Or what happens if he turns out like Tiger Woods, Patrick Kane, Michael Phelps, or Michael Vick?(all examples of athletes who have had enormous admiration bestowed upon them and who have gotten into trouble) Will the province regret naming a lake after him then? Toews has already sworn on national television during the world junior hockey championships and he was busted twice for underage drinking while playing college hockey in North Dakota. Although he was 18 when these events occurred, he could still get into trouble now.
I also feel that while Toews is a hockey superstar, and while hockey is such a huge part of our culture, Canadians tend to over-admire hockey players. Hockey players, especially superstars, are put on a pedistal. Examples include Wayne Gretzky, Maurice
Richard,Bobby Orr,Gordie Howe, and Sidney Crosby.
Just a random point... Why is it that there is un uproar over Toews lake, but we barely heard a peep out of Nova Scotians and Canadians in general when Sidney Crosby
was chosen for the Order of Nova Scotia? I did hear some complaints on the internet, but that's it. Meanwhile Toews has a lake named after him, and it sparks a bit of controversy?
What is your opinion on the Toews lake controversy?
Haley, this is a great blog! I love it. Congratulations on launching it!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Toews Lake topic, I can understand Mrs. Seggie's anger, given that she lost her son only a couple of years ago. I also have the greatest respect for Canada's soldiers and the sacrifices they make for us; particularly when they give their lives in our service.
At the same time, there are many ways that someone can do something important enough to have a lake named after them. Jonathon Toews is young man but he has accomplished a lot, including a Gold Medal for Canada and bringing back a Stanley Cup to his home province.
I can well understand Mrs. Seggie's upset, which no doubt is driven by her grief over the loss of her son, but I believe it is unfortunate that Jonathon's honour has been tarnished. He is a fine young man and the 3rd youngest captain in the history of the NHL. Although it actually seems kinda silly for the province to use naming a lake in the middle of nowhere after someone as a way to honour them, I was pleased for Jonathon.
I look forward to reading future posts and comments on your awesome blog.