Manitobans honour CFB Wainwright fire victims at Remembrance Day ceremony

Thousands of Manitobans came together in Winnipeg to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and veterans at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre. The event, organized by the Joint Veterans Association, featured a military band playing as attendees donned military attire and medals. Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, Premier Wab Kinew, and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham were among the dignitaries in attendance.

The programs distributed to the crowd asked participants to remember the four soldiers who lost their lives and the many others who were injured in the Wainwright, Alta. incident. Chaplain Padre Kimberly Barlow led the crowd in silence, encouraging them to recall the personal stories and losses associated with the service members.

Barlow emphasized that each person honored that day was not just a uniform or a name etched in stone, but a family member, friend, colleague, and neighbor. She reminded the audience that the cost of service extends beyond the battlefield, encompassing the demanding work of training, preparation, and readiness to serve.

The soldiers who died in the tragedy were: Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, from Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, from North Vancouver, B.C.; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, from Langley, B.C.; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, from Edmonton, Alta. Their sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder that service carries not only the challenges of combat but also the demanding aspects of military life.