Corporal Donald Hastings served with the Canadian Army in Korea. He is the only soldier from North Vancouver killed in the Korean War and the only soldier from British Columbia whose body was never recovered.
Corporal Hastings was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan on 20 March 1929. He moved to British Columbia and completed grade 10 at North Vancouver High. During his school days he participated in Cadets. He enlisted in the Canadian Army on 26 July 1945 and served in the Merchant Navy, Canadian Army Pacific Force from 25 July 1945 to 14 June 1946. He was honorably discharged and earned the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
He re-enlisted on 17 January 1949 and was posted to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Calgary, Alberta. Corporal Hastings was sent to Korea, arriving on 30 January 1952. He was part of the Sniper Section and was killed in action during the Richardson Patrol on 15 October 1952. The area was overran by the enemy and heavily shelled by Canadian Gunners. No trace of Corporal Hastings was found.
Hastings Lake was named as part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies on 11 November 2005. Guy F. Black researched and submitted the name proposal to Government if British Columbia. His only connection was being a next door neighbour and friend to Corporal Hastings' sister-in-law Phyllis Hastings. Guy Black served in the Engineer Corps, Cadets and Reserves.
A ceremony was held on 15 September 2013 at Hastings Lake. It is located is deep in the backcountry and requires a long hard hike or a helicopter ride to reach. The lake was chosen with the help of North Shore Rescue. A commemorative plaque was installed by the team in advance and the ceremony was arranged around their training schedule. They helped Guy Black with the eight-year journey to honour a man so few know anything about.