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The 4 soldiers killed in fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta
The 4 soldiers killed in fire at CFB Wainwright
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Canadian Armed Forces (Mandatory credit)
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 Patriciaâs 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.
â

Pte. Aidan Goulding
The 23-year-old of North Vancouver was also a member of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patriciaâs 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, âI know I have one life to live, and Iâm 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.
â

Pte. Hayden Lykkemark
The 19-year-old was from Langley, B.C., and served with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patriciaâs 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.
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Sgt. Morgan Wong
The 26-year-old from Edmonton was a reservist with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, serving with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patriciaâs 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.
â 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.
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Ottawa tells its diplomats not to meet with U.S. midterm candidates
Diplomats told not to meet midterm candidates
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Canadian diplomats were directed this week not to meet with or attend events with candidates in the U.S. midterm elections.
Glen Linder, assistant deputy minister for the Americas at Global Affairs Canada, sent a memo midday Tuesday to members of the foreign service in the United States.
The memo, which was obtained by The Canadian Press, says if diplomats find themselves "in the same physical space" as a candidate or elected official, they should avoid being photographed or having their name or position appear in any public communications materials.
The memo says those instructions are similar to those in place during election periods in Canada, when public servants are expected to avoid contact with elected officials except in exceptional circumstances.
The memo comes as the Trump administration accuses Canadian politicians of interfering in American elections.
While Prime Minister Mark Carney has disputed the suggestion of Canadian interference, the memo says that, given "heightened sensitivity," the department must take a "very risk-averse approach."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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How AI allegations led Quebec author from prestigious awards to losing his publisher
Timeline of AI allegations around Thélyson Orélien
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout â Francois Couture (Mandatory Credit)
A few weeks ago, Haitian-born Quebec author ThĂ©lyson OrĂ©lien was collecting award nominations as his book topped bestseller lists. Then, allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his debut novel, âCâĂ©tait ça ou mourirâ (âIt was either that or dyingâ), 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.Â
Here is a timeline of the rise of OrĂ©lienâs 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 Ăditions du BorĂ©al said it received the manuscript of âCâĂ©tait 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: âCâĂ©tait ça ou mourirâ 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 Ăditions Grasset.
Sept. 2: âCâĂ©tait ça ou mourirâ is among 16 nominees for the Prix Goncourt, one of Franceâs most prestigious literary awards.
Sept. 21: Grasset announces the author has won Franceâs Prix du Roman Fnac, a literary award chosen by a jury of 400 booksellers and 400 readers.
That same day, the X account âBalance ton Claudeâ alleges that, according to Pangram software, excerpts of OrĂ©lienâs novel had been written âalmost entirely by artificial intelligence.â
Sept. 22: OrĂ©lien denies AI use in a joint press release with his Quebec publisher. The author says his writing style comes from Haiti's literary tradition, âwhere poetry, images, repetitions and rhythm carry a living speech."
The publisher defends OrĂ©lien and denounces statements that âdirectly damage the authorâs reputation.â
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: BorĂ©al says it is concerned about the plagiarism allegations and suspends promotional activities surrounding OrĂ©lienâs novel, citing the authorâs 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 lâEstrie, a book fair in Sherbrooke, Que., announces it is removing OrĂ©lien as a guest of honour after learning of the plagiarism allegations.
That same day, French literary online magazine ActuaLittĂ© publishes an article about a 2023 text on OrĂ©lienâs blog which included a sentence that looks like an AI prompt.Â
Sept. 25: The AcadĂ©mie Goncourt removes âCâĂ©tait ça ou mourirâ from consideration for the Prix Goncourt. The academy cites analyses it considered credible and the separate plagiarism allegations involving OrĂ©lienâs previous work.
OrĂ©lien declines to respond to the new allegations or provide further comment. âI canât talk about it. I want to focus on my physical and mental health,â he says in a WhatsApp message to The Canadian Press.
Oct. 13: In a statement, OrĂ©lien admits that he plagiarized some of his earlier work and apologizes for making what he described as unacceptable mistakes in his youth. âAdmiration does not give you the right to take, to claim as your own texts that are not yours,â 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.
âWhat I am going through is cruel,â he writes. âBy 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.â
Oct. 14: BorĂ©al condemned OrĂ©lienâs 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 authorâs word to determine how the novel was written.
âThe publisherâs role is not to demand proof from authors, but to stand by them, and that is what we are doing,â the publishing house said.
Oct. 17: BorĂ©al confirms OrĂ©lien has dropped his efforts to compile evidence he did not use AI to write his novel. âThat 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,â co-director Renaud Roussel wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.Â
At the time, Roussel said the publisherâs position on the affair had not changed. A new printing was expected the following week.Â
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.
âWe still do not know to what extent AI was used in the creation of âCâĂ©tait ça ou mourir,â and we will likely never have a definitive answer,â it wrote.
â 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.
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