On Saturday, October 17, an extremely fast-moving fire impacted Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta, in what is one of the worst tragedies for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on Canadian soil in peacetime.
It has been confirmed that four service members have lost their lives and an additional 39 people were injured. Their next of kin have been notified.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. It would be inappropriate to speculate while that work continues.
At the Prime Minister’s request, Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty and Major-General Wade Rutland briefed Canadians from Wainwright this afternoon, alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. They were joined by Minister Olszewski, Alberta ministers, and senior officials.
The Prime Minister commended the close collaboration between all levels of government. The Prime Minister and Premier Smith have been in regular contact since last evening, and their ministers and officials have coordinated the response, deploying resources from the CAF, Public Safety, local fire departments, and Alberta’s emergency and medical services.
The Government of Canada will be there for the families of the fallen for as long as they need, care for the injured through every step of their recovery, and stand by the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces as they bear the weight of this loss.
Key Messages
Our thoughts are with Canadian Armed Forces members, their families, and everyone affected by the serious incident at CFB Wainwright.
This tragedy is among the worst to have affected Canadian Armed Forces members on Canadian soil during peacetime.
The Prime Minister confirmed that four service members have tragically lost their lives. Minister McGuinty and CAF leadership have confirmed that an additional 39 service members have been injured.
Those affected came from bases across the country, including reservists and soldiers from the storied Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (the Princess Pats) based at CFB Edmonton, a regiment that has fought for freedom, democracy, and human dignity from the First World War to Afghanistan.
Working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities, resources have been deployed from the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety Canada, local fire departments and first responders, and Emergency Health Services Alberta.
We would like to thank the first responders and all those working hard to protect and support those affected.
As our nation mourns this loss, our government will ensure Canadians are kept informed as further details become available.
Support is available to all members of the Defence Team and their families, including chaplains, mental health teams, and Military Family Resource Centres. No one has to go through this alone.
