Mom says B.C. soldier who died at CFB Wainwright was her ‘bright light’

VANCOUVER — Today, Vancouver will host the funeral for Pte. Aidan Goulding, one of four Canadian soldiers who perished in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. The ceremony will be held at the Seaforth Armoury, where family, friends, and fellow members of the armed forces will gather to mourn and pay their respects. Goulding, a 23-year-old member of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, tragically lost his life during a live-fire training exercise when a grass fire at the base engulfed a nearby grenade range.

Known for his exceptional athleticism and infectious laughter, Goulding was eagerly anticipating his assignment to peacekeeping duties in Latvia. The other victims of the October 17 fire were Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, from Langley, British Columbia; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton. The blaze resulted in 39 other injuries, many of them severely burned.

This report, originally published by The Canadian Press on November 8, 2026, aims to provide a factual account of the events surrounding the soldiers' deaths and the upcoming funeral.