Funeral held in Vancouver for Canadian soldier killed in Alberta base fire
A funeral in Vancouver honored Private Aidan Goulding, one of four soldiers who died in a grass fire at CFB Wainwright, while family members remembered his personality and aspirations.
Vancouver – Hundreds of military personnel, family members and friends gathered at an armoury on a rainy Sunday to pay respects to Private Aidan Goulding, 23, who was among four Canadian soldiers killed when a grass fire engulfed troops during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta last month.
Goulding’s mother, Sonia Monk, said her son joined the Canadian Armed Forces after leaving a well-paid civilian job, describing his decision as “unselfish” and noting that the military gave him a sense of purpose and belonging.
"Whenever I was disciplining him, he would start to laugh or he would try to say something. I could never properly discipline him," Monk said, adding that his humor was a quality the family will miss.
Family members recalled Goulding’s interests, including his involvement in sports such as soccer and rugby and his hobby of buying, repairing and reselling used cars.
"He loved understanding how things worked and took great pride in making them his own," the family said.
Goulding’s aunt, Reagan Goulding, highlighted his travel experiences, noting that he had visited countries across Europe and North America.
"He was smart, ambitious, determined and resourceful," she said, adding that she believed he had a promising future, possibly in law enforcement or intelligence work.
The ceremony featured a flag-draped casket carried by soldiers, bagpipe music and remarks from a rabbi. The service also remembered the three other soldiers who died in the fire – Private Hayden Lykkemark, 19; Sergeant Morgan Wong, 26; and Private Shaun Farrell, 23 – and acknowledged the 39 injured personnel, many of whom remain hospitalized in Edmonton and Calgary.
Monk expressed gratitude for the support received from the military community and described the moment when sunlight broke through the clouds as a comforting sign.
"We’ll move forward," she said, echoing her son’s outlook.
The Canadian Press reported the funeral details on Nov. 8, 2026.