Wainwright Fire Shadow Over Ottawa Remembrance Day Ceremony
Four soldiers died in a training accident last month as Canadians marked the 158 lives lost in the Afghanistan conflict.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Guns fired and bagpipes played at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday as Canadians observed Remembrance Day. The ceremony coincided with the first anniversary of a major training disaster that killed four soldiers and injured dozens of others at Canadian Forces Wainwright in Alberta.
Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding, and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark were killed at the base in October. A grass fire started on the automatic grenade launcher range and strong winds pushed the flames across the training area. The incident resulted in the deaths of the four service members and injuries to 39 others.
Prime Minister Mark Carney released a statement on Wednesday to honor the fallen soldiers. "With their bright futures still before them, they chose to safeguard ours," Carney wrote. He added that the government mourns the loss and supports those recovering from injuries.
Governor General Louise Arbour noted that this year's observance carries added weight due to the recent tragedy. "Our thoughts remain with the soldiers we lost, those who were wounded, as well as the families, friends, comrades and all others affected by this tragic event," Arbour said. She emphasized that every uniform represents a human being who accepts risk on behalf of others.
National Defence reported on Nov. 4 that 14 of the 39 injured soldiers had been released from hospital. The remaining 25 were still receiving treatment at the time of that update. Dave Edwards, an operations worker at the Connaught Cadet Training Centre in Ottawa, attended the national ceremony. He described the Wainwright accident as unfortunate but a reminder of the dangerous nature of military service.
The day also marks 25 years since the start of the Afghanistan war. The conflict lasted more than 12 years and involved 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members. Veterans Affairs Canada states that 158 Canadian military personnel and seven civilians died in the country. The civilians included a diplomat, four aid workers, a government contractor, and a journalist.
Ray McGill from Courtice, Ontario, traveled to Ottawa to watch his son march in his first Remembrance Day parade. McGill served in the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment for 28 years. His role during the Afghanistan war was to notify next of kin when soldiers were killed. He said the day provides an opportunity to pay tribute to those who are no longer present.
A separate ceremony is scheduled at CFB Wainwright. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to attend that event with other dignitaries and veterans. The year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion and the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College.
