The 4 soldiers killed in fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta
Four Armed Forces members were killed when a fast-moving fire overwhelmed soldiers during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, southeast of Edmonton, on Saturday. Dozens of others were injured, with 27 remaining in hospital as of Thursday.
Here's a look at the four who died:
Pte. Shaun Farrell
Farrell, a 23-year-old member of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based at Edmonton, was from Prince Albert, Sask.
He was born in South Africa and immigrated with his family as a teen.
He was diagnosed with dyslexia and Asperger's syndrome but met life's obstacles with resilience and determination, his family said in a statement.
"He consistently refused to let labels or low expectations define his potential."
It was his lifelong goal to join the military and he wore his uniform with pride, they said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a tribute in the House of Commons, said Farrell was generous and loyal and known in his battalion as the grandmaster of chess.
"His loss will be felt deeply by his family, friends, fellow service members, and all who knew him," Premier Scott Moe added in a statement.
—

Pte. Aidan Goulding
The 23-year-old of North Vancouver was also a member of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
His family said he was an exceptional athlete and, after high school, became a mechanic.
He later quit to join the Army.
"Although he was making excellent money and had a good life, he decided he wanted to defend his country. His goal was to work for Special OPs and then onto CSIS," his mother, Sonia Monk, and older brother, Wylder Goulding, said in a statement.
"He was the guy that kept people's spirits up, a contagious laugh and a cheeky smile, he took his role in the army seriously, and our family and his dear friends have suffered a great loss."
They said he loved his adopted army family and was looking forward to peacekeeping in Latvia.
"Before he went to basic training, he said, ‘I know I have one life to live, and I’m gonna make the best out of it.' That was our Aidan."
He went above and beyond in his service, added the prime minister.
"Pte. Goulding met every hardship with a joke, and when others struggled, he shouldered more than his share without ever being asked," said Carney.
—

Pte. Hayden Lykkemark
The 19-year-old was from Langley, B.C., and served with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
"Pte. Lykkemark was known for his gift for lightening a hard day, his quick wit. He dreamed of a career in law enforcement," said Carney.
Trevor Plater, who coached Lykkemark in rugby his senior year at Langley Secondary School, said he was "always looking out for everybody."
Plater added that all of the team and Lykkemark's schoolmates thought of him as a best friend.
B.C. Premier David Eby recognized Lykkemark and Goulding in a social media post.
"In this moment of profound heartbreak, as British Columbians and Canadians, let's wrap our arms around their families, supporting them and joining in the mourning of this horrible tragedy," he said.
---

Sgt. Morgan Wong
The 26-year-old from Edmonton was a reservist with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, serving with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
"He was an incredible person who was always there whenever anyone needed him," his family said in a statement.
"He loved being active and spending time with his friends and family. He was extremely proud to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces."
They said he earned a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Alberta, as well as certificates in real estate and civil-military leadership.
He joined the Forces in 2017, and for the last four years worked as a financial analyst and manager with the Alberta government. He also served as a first responder with St. John Ambulance.
He served in Latvia from October 2024 to June 2025, and was preparing for a second tour in Europe.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Sergeant Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and all those who lost their lives yesterday at Wainwright," the 49th Battalion Loyal Edmonton Regiment Association said in a social media post.
"Our thoughts and prayers are also with the injured, their loved ones and everyone affected by this tragedy.
"We will remember them."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
— By Dayne Patterson and Bill Graveland in Calgary, Nick Murray in Ottawa and Ian Bickis in Winnipeg
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
How AI allegations led Quebec author from prestigious awards to losing his publisher
A few weeks ago, Haitian-born Quebec author Thélyson Orélien was collecting award nominations as his book topped bestseller lists. Then, allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his debut novel, “C’était ça ou mourir” (“It was either that or dying”), started cropping up.
On Wednesday, his Quebec publisher announced it was cutting ties with the author after it found evidence it says indicates he used artificial intelligence to write his book.
Here is a timeline of the rise of Orélien’s book and the mounting accusations that followed.
2017: Orélien said he began writing his book in 2017 in Laval, north of Montreal.
The book follows a Haitian man forced to flee his country and make a perilous journey through the Americas to Quebec. The story is based on Orélien's own experience leaving Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, the author has said.
2019: Orélien said he finished the first draft of more than 300 pages, two years later.
Sept. 12, 2025: Les Éditions du Boréal said it received the manuscript of “C’était ça ou mourir." The publisher later said it couldn't verify the allegations about the book's writing process before that date.
March 9, 2026: “C’était ça ou mourir” is published in Quebec. It was published in France a few weeks later and set to be translated into over 20 languages, according to French publisher Éditions Grasset.
Sept. 2: “C’était ça ou mourir” is among 16 nominees for the Prix Goncourt, one of France’s most prestigious literary awards.
Sept. 21: Grasset announces the author has won France’s Prix du Roman Fnac, a literary award chosen by a jury of 400 booksellers and 400 readers.
That same day, the X account “Balance ton Claude” alleges that, according to Pangram software, excerpts of Orélien’s novel had been written “almost entirely by artificial intelligence.”
Sept. 22: Orélien denies AI use in a joint press release with his Quebec publisher. The author says his writing style comes from Haiti's literary tradition, “where poetry, images, repetitions and rhythm carry a living speech."
The publisher defends Orélien and denounces statements that “directly damage the author’s reputation.”
Sept. 23: Separate plagiarism allegations emerge as media outlet La Presse publishes an article outlining passages in articles attributed to Orélien and published in Quebec and French media between 2012 and 2014 that were near-identical to previously-published work by other authors.
Sept. 24: Boréal says it is concerned about the plagiarism allegations and suspends promotional activities surrounding Orélien’s novel, citing the author’s well-being. The publisher says it is working with the author to compile a detailed record of his writing process.
The Salon du livre de l’Estrie, a book fair in Sherbrooke, Que., announces it is removing Orélien as a guest of honour after learning of the plagiarism allegations.
That same day, French literary online magazine ActuaLitté publishes an article about a 2023 text on Orélien’s blog which included a sentence that looks like an AI prompt.
Sept. 25: The Académie Goncourt removes “C’était ça ou mourir” from consideration for the Prix Goncourt. The academy cites analyses it considered credible and the separate plagiarism allegations involving Orélien’s previous work.
Orélien declines to respond to the new allegations or provide further comment. “I can’t talk about it. I want to focus on my physical and mental health,” he says in a WhatsApp message to The Canadian Press.
Oct. 13: In a statement, Orélien admits that he plagiarized some of his earlier work and apologizes for making what he described as unacceptable mistakes in his youth. “Admiration does not give you the right to take, to claim as your own texts that are not yours,” he writes.
However, he denies using AI to write his debut novel, saying no sentence was generated by a machine. He adds that he used AI tools for research, for instance to look up foreign-language expressions.
“What I am going through is cruel,” he writes. “By attributing a text, one that is mine...to a machine, they have not only called into question my status as a writer but also my humanity.”
Oct. 14: Boréal condemned Orélien’s plagiarism but said it stood by the author amid the AI allegations and would keep the book on shelves. It said it had no evidence beyond the author’s word to determine how the novel was written.
“The publisher’s role is not to demand proof from authors, but to stand by them, and that is what we are doing,” the publishing house said.
Oct. 17: Boréal confirms Orélien has dropped his efforts to compile evidence he did not use AI to write his novel. “That decision is his to make, and we accept it, although we certainly would have preferred to be able to provide definitive answers to the allegations of AI use against him,” co-director Renaud Roussel wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.
At the time, Roussel said the publisher’s position on the affair had not changed. A new printing was expected the following week.
Oct. 21: Boréal announces it cut ties with Orélien. The publishing house says it found evidence, through an analysis of some documents' metadata, that Orélien used AI to write his book.
The publisher said it will not reprint the book or publish more books by Orélien.
“We still do not know to what extent AI was used in the creation of ‘C’était ça ou mourir,’ and we will likely never have a definitive answer,” it wrote.
— With files from Charlotte Glorieux
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
By Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Former Alberta cabinet minister says Smith can't survive UCP crisis after referendum
A former Alberta cabinet minister says Premier Danielle Smith won't survive the crisis in her United Conservative Party amid fallout from the separation referendum.
Peter Guthrie, who was removed from the UCP caucus after criticizing the government over a health-care procurement scandal, now leads the upstart Progressive Tory Party of Alberta.
He says Monday's referendum angered both federalists and separatists and leaves Smith with more enemies than supporters.
About 75 per cent of voters cast ballots to keep Alberta in Canada and not to have a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
Smith's office says Guthrie is out of touch with Albertans and peddling misinformation.
On Wednesday, the premier said anyone running for or speaking for her UCP must accept its pro-Canada stance.
She said separatists intent on turning the party into a vehicle for independence should join a different party, warning internal division could cost the UCP next year's election.
By Lisa Johnson | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
