EDMONTON — The town of Wainwright, Alberta is preparing for what Mayor Bruce Pugh believes may be the most somber Remembrance Day in its recent memory. This year, the annual observance will carry a heavy emotional weight following a tragic fire at the nearby Canadian Forces Base Wainwright on October 17 that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to 39 others.
“It will be different this year just with the weight of what happened,” Pugh stated. He emphasized that Wainwright is a military community where its residents consider themselves family, adding, “I get a sense that things will never be the same.”
On Wednesday, hundreds of military personnel, local residents, and dignitaries are expected to gather at the local ice rink for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Floral tributes and wreaths will be placed at the town’s clock tower, a fieldstone structure that commemorates Canadians who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. This tower has been a presence in the middle of a downtown roundabout for approximately a century.
Remembrance Day has always held significant importance in Wainwright, a town of around 7,000 people located 210 kilometers southeast of Edmonton. Home to one of the busiest Canadian Forces bases in the country, Wainwright's civilian population is closely connected to military life, with children of Armed Forces members attending local schools and participating in community sports. Residents are also familiar with the sounds of artillery blasts as they frequently occur during military training exercises.
“We’re worried about our CAF friends,” remarked Pugh, recognizing that while the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have substantial support, events like this inevitably leave lasting impacts. He noted that 25 of the injured soldiers were still receiving treatment at various hospitals.
During a field exercise, roughly 84 soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were caught in a sudden grass fire exacerbated by strong winds. Prime Minister Mark Carney referred to the incident as one of the worst tragedies for the Armed Forces on Canadian soil during peacetime, with three separate investigations currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the event.
The four soldiers who lost their lives were identified as Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, from Edmonton; Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, from North Vancouver, British Columbia; and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, from Langley, British Columbia. Additionally, among the injured is 24-year-old Corporal Sean Hiatt of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, who is also employed as a railway track maintenance supervisor with CN Rail.
In a show of solidarity, CN Rail announced its intention to position locomotives outside the Wainwright arena on Wednesday, recognizing the unique challenges associated with this year’s Remembrance Day due to the tragedy at CFB Wainwright. Jennifer Ford, an archivist with the Wainwright and District Museum and Visitor Information Center, noted that the community’s mood has been grave since the fire, as many residents have personal connections to military families.
Historically, before becoming a military base, CFB Wainwright was known as Buffalo National Park. The Department of National Defence took over the site in 1939, and towards the end of the Second World War, it briefly served as a camp for prisoners of war, hosting about 1,100 German officers at the time. Ford recounted an anecdote from a guard who was amazed to discover a hockey game taking place between the guards and the prisoners on his first day on the job.
The federal budget announced last week has pledged $25 million over the next two years to support those affected by the fire, underlining Ottawa's commitment to assist military members and their families. Mayor Pugh anticipates that this year’s Remembrance Day will draw heightened attention to both the town and the military community. He concluded by acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who serve, stating, “I recognize that this idea of freedom is not free. There’s a cost that is paid, sadly, and those people are willing to do it. So they deserve our utmost respect.”
