The victims of the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta were remembered during a moment of silence in the House of Commons before party leaders expressed their condolences for those who died and were injured.
Prime Minister Mark Carney began the remarks, saying the House was meeting “united in grief.”
“This loss touches every corner of our nation,” he said.
The four soldiers killed have been identified as: Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark.
Wong was from Edmonton and a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. The other three were all members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Infantry (3PPCLI). Though they were based at the Edmonton Garrison, Farrell called Prince Albert, Sask. home while Goulding hailed from North Vancouver and Lykkemark from Langley in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
Carney remembered each member with remarks on their personalities, saying Goulding “met every hardship with a joke” and “shouldered more than his share” when others struggled.
Farrell was described by the prime minister as a “generous and deeply loyal friend” and a grand master of chess.
Wong was someone known for being there for those who needed him, and had previously served with NATO allies in Latvia and was preparing for a second tour in Europe.
The prime minister said Lykkemark was known for “lightening a hard day” and a quick wit, with a dream to start a career in law enforcement. He and Farrell were also considered best friends, “seldom seen apart.”
“These were sons, brothers, partners, friends, young men with bright futures who chose to serve our country and who died in that cause,” Carney said. “We will honour them always.”
Their deaths came after a routine training exercise for Edmonton-based soldiers descended into chaos at CFB Wainwright when a violent, sudden surge of wind caused a nearby grass fire towards the soldiers at lightning speed.
“This was uncommon, rapid, and I certainly hadn’t seen anything like it,” Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, Commander of 1st Canadian Division, said during an update Sunday afternoon.
About 350 troops with the 3PPCLI were participating in exercises at the base, located 200 km southeast of Edmonton.
Rutland said the grass fire was known well beforehand but not considered a threat. It was located about a kilometre away and considered sufficiently under control that training exercises were allowed to take place nearby on Saturday afternoon.
But the surge of wind changed conditions, with the flames then jumping the base fence and threatening nearby rural areas and the town of Wainwright.
The affected unit was Charlie Company of the 3PPCLI, Rutland said.
A total of 39 other troops were sent to hospital, with 19 in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon.
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“The loss of life and injuries are heartbreaking,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said when she announced the casualty count and confirmed many have serious burns.
The wounded are being cared for in four hospitals: the University of Alberta and Royal Alexandra in Edmonton, Foothills in Calgary and the regional hospital in Red Deer.
Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski is in Alberta and working with the province’s public safety minister, Mike Ellis, Carney said. Work is also being done to ensure every injured soldier receives the specialized treatment needed, he added.
King Charles III and politicians across Canada are among those to have paid condolences for those killed and injured in the fire.
The prime minister also noted that Canadians would gather at cenotaphs for Remembrance Day to remember those who sacrificed their lives for Canada.
“This year, we will carry more names with us,” he said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is the MP for Battle River-Crowfoot — the riding where the base is situated — said he remembered meeting Goulding when celebrating Canada Day at the base.
“I remembered meeting him. Strong, handsome, polite, a real gentleman,” Poilievre said. “His mother described him as: ‘an exceptional athlete, a natural leader, and a passionate young man who always accomplished his goals. He was the light of my life.’“
He went on to pay tribute to Farrell, Wong and Lykkemark, quoting words made by their family members in social media posts.
Poilievre also commended those who responded, including other soldiers and firefighters.
“We agree that Parliament must support all efforts to reconstruct the base and repair all the damage done,” he said. “But more important than that, we must stand with the wounded, we must make sure that they get the greatest care to save their lives and make their lives as rewarding as possible in the aftermath.”
He urged Canadians to remember those who died and those injured, to donate to military families if possible, and give blood to help those still recovering.
“As the spotlight fades and the news moves on, there will be dark, cold emptiness that follows the loss of a loved one,” Poilievre said. “You must not forget those family members as they go through this dark and often lonely silence.”
NDP MP Gord Johns stood in the House of Commons Monday and stressed the need to support the survivors going forward.
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“We need to also recognize that not all wounds are visible,” he said. “Tragedies like this can leave lasting psychological and emotional scars on survivors, fellow service members, first responders and their families.
“Our obligation to them doesn’t end as the headlines fade.”
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said the families of the victims have his party’s support, while also urging the government to put all energy into completing the investigation into the incident.
“There will be difficult times to come when the tempest has passed, many families will still need the solidarity that we can provide,” Blanchet said, while speaking in French.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May echoed Carney’s statements that the country was “united in grief,” adding while answers of what happened won’t come today, they will be found.
“We owe it to those who died and to their loved ones and to those who are injured and wounded to get these answers and take on board those lessons so this could never happen again,” May said.
“Our sympathies cannot fill the holes in your lives and no matter how much we continue to pray and think of you, we know we can only add one more word of condolence to the thousands that you must be receiving, know that you are prayed for by millions.”
How the response played out
When the fire hit, Rutland said the 84-member Charlie Company was doing two exercises. Most were throwing hand grenades on a range while 10 soldiers were doing a simulated attack on an enemy, when they found themselves in the path of the roaring fire.
Smith said emergency resources from across Alberta and beyond sprang into action, with 30 emergency units, including 22 ground ambulances and eight medevac aircraft deployed to the base.
Bright flares lit up the night sky over Wainwright as Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue technicians leapt from military aircraft and parachuted into the community.
Lt. Col. Trevor Jain, a 40-year member of the Canadian Armed Forces with disaster medicine training, spoke with Global News to share insight on how such a situation would typically be handled based on his experience, and without speaking specifically about the details of this case which are still under investigation.
He said members would also typically start basic treatment as soon as possible until they could transport the injured to medical facilities.
“The number one job is to make sure scene safety, so make sure that after the event had occured that the scene is safe and then start to triage patients right away,” Jain told Global News.
He said in addition to triage, members would likely start basic treatment as soon as possible until they could transport them to medical facilities.
Following the CFB Wainwright incident, Jain said he reached out to friends and colleagues in the CAF, known as “buddy checks,” and said it’s important to make sure families are supported.
Stressing the importance of reaching out, Jain said moving forward people need to ensure families are supported.
It’s what Diana Festejo’s organization, Legacy Place Society, is trying to do by offering spaces to Wainwright victims’ families.
The group works with people who may have homes they can offer up, or other options to provide transitional housing, and have already received more than 1,500 calls from people offering help to Wainwright families.
“We have started to settle a couple of out of towners into some accommodations primarily in Edmonton, but we do anticipate as time goes along and people make their flight arrangements that they’ll be calling on us,” said Festejo, Legacy Place’s executive director. “It’s important that these families have some place to stay, it allows time to just decompress and put their feet down and just settle.”
Festejo added the organization has a database of about 800 people who help cover costs for the families that use the service, in addition to offering their home as a place to stay.
Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson, who is colonel in chief of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, said support will be needed for the victims and survivors but underscored the strength of Canada’s infantry.
“I’m often with our troops and I’m very admiring of them,” Clarkson said. “Canadians are ready to stand up for people and as I think of Aidan and Shaun and Hayden and Morgan, I think they would be happy that we are going to continue their work.”
—with files from Global News’ Karen Bartko, Heidi Petracek, Jeff Semple and Ashleigh Stewart
Carney and his crocodile tears. All performance and no substance.
Not to mention all the shrieking anti Carney spazzes and conspiracy nuts. Ppft. Seriously. Whatever.
I’m not united in grief. They chose to be military puppets, and they got puppet walked into fire. Whoops! People don’t learn do they?
Canada is not united at all. This tragedy was planned to make it look that way though.
GRIEF!? NO! OUTRAGE!! Outrage at how little you f8ckers value life. You cant even be bothered to tell the truth about what killed and injured these folks!
TO HELL WITH YOU FREAKS!!
Such an awful tragedy! Condolences to all families affected. I hope they do not see the hate speech expressed here at a time when prayers are in order. Shame on these negative people.
@Hi Ben. Only a raging narcissist impersonates someone to give support yourself. You must be a Liberal
These guys are gonna defend Canada when they cant even save themselves from a fire
Clownadian military, what a joke
@Ben 1255 pm. Glad to see you ignoring the trolls and impersonators and keeping your head high.
I’m on the list for Canadian Navy based in Saskatoony, they’ve got hundred battleships and aircraft carriers there
Sad that Carney is trying to use the Wainwright tragedy to pursue is own political interests in the Alberta referendum.
Let the cover up begin!
I’M PRAYING 🙏 FOR EVERYONE AS MY OLDEST DAUGHTER CHRISTINE FANDRICH IS ON THE RESERVE LIST FOR THE NAVEY HERE IN HAMILTON ONTARIO 🇨🇦 🍁 CANADA ❤️ 🇨🇦.
I was quite proud as a Canadian to hear the PM’s speech and Poilievre’s. The Bloc leader’s speech and May’s was good as well. What they did was to make this a non partisan issue. How I wish others would do the same.
Anything to “Unite Canada…” Cheering on the end to lying politicians and media, which is all of them. That’s Karma you hear coming for you.
Of course the families deserve sympathy. It’s the mockery from Carney that is disgusting. ‘United’ because he wants to play this for political advantage in AB. He a malignant narcissist who can’t acknowledge veterans. This is theatre for him. You can see the malice in his eyes.
United in grief. Okay. Why didn’t you stand to acknowledge veterans at a recent Oiler game? Hmm? I do believe your patriotism is non existent. Given your multiple passports, et al. Time to show the peasants some false grief? You are a disgrace, Carney.
Liberals never take responsibility for their mistakes and try to deflect the blame to others
Carney is so cold and callous. I don’t believe anything he says. He has dropped the ball so far on this, just like McGuinty
Even the Bloc Quebecois, a separatist party, offered its condolences to those affected. But some commenters on various stories here have to make things into a joke, blame Carney, or rush to judgement. I’m a very immature young man in some ways but it’s odd in this case older adults than I can’t be respectful under the circumstances. Military families are grieving and some choose to play partisan games or rush to judgement. No empathy, no respect, and no class. I find that heartbreaking-because this is not my Canada-and disappointing.
Ben is the only person in this column who has the correct idea. Condolences are in order; you other people should be ashamed of yourselves.
If you think this is upsetting, just wait for the piles of bodies that come home from Eastern Europe in the near future.
My thoughts are with those affected.
Carney will stoke divisions and try to score cheap political points for the Liberals.
Who cares what this habitual liar says. It is an insult to the brave men and women in the CAV to have this con man who thinks creative accounting can keep our CAF safe and effective.