WARMINGTON: CFB Wainwright deadly fire hits close to home with local soldier injured

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A tragedy that has rocked Canada and its armed forces has also struck an Ontario family whose matriarch is currently running for mayor of Oro-Medonte, near Barrie.

And now former Oro-Medonte Councillor Cathy Keane says she is suspending campaigning and heading to Alberta to be with her son, who she said has been “critically injured” in the mass casualty event at CFB Wainwright.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed in his address to the nation from Ottawa on Sunday that four people died in the incident and dozens were injured.

The Canadian Armed Forces later identified the deceased as Pte. Aidan Goulding, from North Vancouver, Pte. Shaun Farrell, from Prince Albert, Sask., Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, from Langley, B.C., and Sgt. Morgan Wong, from Edmonton.

In an unverified Facebook post earlier in the day, Patricia Farrell, of Saskatchewan, said her son, Shaun, was among the dead.

Keane detailed her own family’s situation in a Facebook post.

“As a mother, right now I need to be with my son and family. I will be travelling to Alberta and unable to continue door-knocking for the remainder of the mayoral campaign,” posted Keane to her social media accounts.

Officials on Sunday confirmed that a major fire spread out of control during a live fire training exercise at CFB Wainwright one day earlier.

Hospitals across the province were inundated with emergency patients.

Keane’s post earlier Sunday was the first indicator of a name, followed by Farrell’s Facebook post.

“Overnight, our family received the devastating news that our eldest son is among the military personnel critically injured in the incident in Wainwright, Alberta, on Saturday,” wrote Keane.

Full prayers for the Keane family

Full prayers for Keane and her family and for all of the families affected by this troubling turn of events. A complete understanding of what transpired there is still unclear.

“It is with profound sadness that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) confirms the incident resulted in fatalities and injuries. As emergency responders continue their work and the situation continues to evolve, the full extent of the impact remains under assessment. Our immediate priority is supporting those affected and notifying next of kin,” said a military news release issued on Sunday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday said “the flag of Canada will be flown at half-mast on all federal buildings in Canada” and “the Canadian population is wholeheartedly with the members of Wainwright Garrison, their families, and their community.”

This is a dark day in Canada’s history. How dark is still not yet known. This is a dynamic situation that is still unfolding in terms of information.

The Department of National Defence has said “a fire ignited within the training area of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright, Alberta, at approximately 4 p.m.” and “the fire spread rapidly beyond the boundaries of the training area, while military and civilian emergency services responded quickly to control that fire and to support those affected by this tragic event.”

Many unanswered questions

Defence Minister David McGuinty said that the uncontrolled fire broke out while soldiers were training on the range at the base.

“Soldiers from bases nationwide come to Wainwright to prepare before they deploy,” he said. “Those affected included regular force soldiers, reservists and soldiers of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. They are sons and daughters and parents and partners and friends.”

The base, which has a history going back to the Second World War, routinely has 700 uniformed members stationed there and up to 300 civilians. The base routinely conducts war training and in recent times has also been involved in the instruction of operating drone technology as well.

“As of June, the Army Training Centre – West in Wainwright, Alberta is now the home of the inaugural Full Manual Uncrewed Aircraft System (FMUAS) Operator Course, equipping the Army with a capability that is increasingly common in modern battlefields,” said a news release this summer. “It may look like these soldiers are playing a video game, but the operators can attest that it is not as simple as picking up a controller and flying.”

Following a meeting with Mark Carney and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sept. 10 in which a 100-year commitment to helping the embattled country was agreed upon, it was announced that Canada’s involvement in drone warfare would ramp up.

“Prime Minister Carney today announced the creation of the Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace (DDIM) Supply Arrangement,” which will “connect operators and end-users to this Canadian defence ecosystem — accelerating the discovery, acquisition, and fielding of uncrewed and counter-uncrewed capabilities,” said a news release.

The Canadian government added, “the Prime Minister and President underlined the new partnership … which will develop and produce critical drones and drone-related technologies.”

While Russia did not comment on the Canada-Ukraine deal, the CBC reported in June a Russian spokesperson called Canada a “warmonger” and threatened to print the addresses of Canadian weapons manufacturers involved with supplying Ukraine.

It has not been said the drone program was involved in this incident — only that a grass fire ignited during a live training exercise.

Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland acknowledged that people nearby reported hearing explosions at the time of the time, however, “we do not believe this to be as a result of any oil and gas infrastructure, nor any outside interfencence,” he said.

“This is a profoundly difficult moment for the entire Canadian Armed Forces. Our immediate focus remains on supporting those affected, assisting emergency response efforts, and ensuring the well-being of our members, their families, and the surrounding community,” said Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan. “Our thoughts are also with all those impacted by this tragic incident.”

One thing that is clear is that this is a tragedy of enormous proportions and it is affecting families right in the Golden Horseshoe region — one of them a much-respected and well-known municipal politician in Oro-Medonte.

“Right now, I ask for your understanding as our family navigates an incredibly difficult and uncertain time,” said Keane, who said she is still planning to run for mayor but taking a hiatus. “We are grateful for the kindness and support of our friends and community. Please hold your loved ones a little tighter tonight.”

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