Wainwright Community Gathers for Vigil After Tragic Military Training Fire

When a blaze ripped through the training grounds of CFB Wainwright on Saturday, the town’s quiet streets suddenly felt the weight of grief. Four soldiers lost their lives, and more than two dozen were hurt, leaving families and neighbours reeling.

“They’re hurting,” said Ryan Wood, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene, his voice barely above a whisper as he stood before a modest altar. “They’re struggling just like everybody else.” The pastor’s words echoed the sentiment that many in this agricultural community share – that the pain of the base is the town’s pain, too.

In response, faith leaders across Wainwright rallied to organize a vigil for Wednesday night. The event, open to anyone who wants to pay their respects, will be held in the town’s central park and is expected to draw the town’s roughly 7,000 residents, as well as soldiers still stationed at the base.

“We want a message that we’re together in supporting our military,” Wood continued, a slight smile breaking through the sorrow. “We’re together in grieving, together in seeking peace and even hope in all of this.”

The four who perished have been identified: Private Shaun Farrell, 23, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Private Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver; Private Hayden Lykkemark, 19, from Langley, British Columbia; and Sergeant Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton. Premier Danielle Smith confirmed that 27 soldiers remain hospitalized, receiving what she called “the highest level of care.”

Isaiah Mast, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church, added a personal note, recalling how many of his congregants serve on the base. “It’s hard to separate the church from the base,” he said, a hint of a chuckle slipping in before the gravity of the moment reclaimed the room.

As candles are lit and prayers whispered, the community hopes the glow will serve as a small beacon of comfort amid the sorrow. For many, the vigil is the first formal chance to gather, to share stories, and to begin the slow work of healing together.