Funeral held for Canadian soldier killed in Wainwright training fire
Hundreds attended the service for Private Aidan Goulding, 23, who died in a grass fire at CFB Wainwright, with his mother and relatives recalling his life and the loss of three other soldiers.
Hundreds of military personnel, family members and friends gathered at an armoury in Vancouver on a rainy Sunday for the funeral of Private Aidan Goulding, 23, who was among four soldiers killed when a grass fire overtook 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 because he wanted to "do something important" and that the service gave him a sense of purpose and belonging. She recalled his sense of humour, noting that "whenever I was disciplining him, he would start to laugh or he would try to say something. I could never properly discipline him." Goulding's aunt, Reagan Goulding, described him as "smart, ambitious, determined and resourceful" and suggested he might have pursued a career in policing or intelligence. The ceremony included a flag-draped casket carried by soldiers, bagpipe music and remarks from a rabbi. Family members spoke of his interests in sports, cars and travel, mentioning that he had visited several European countries and Mexico. The service also remembered the three other soldiers who died in the fire – Private Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.; Sergeant Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton; and Private Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask. After the casket was moved to a hearse, sunlight broke through the clouds, which Monk said felt like a sign encouraging her to move forward. She expressed gratitude for the support she received from the military community and noted the outpouring of love across Canada.