Edmonton funeral honours soldier killed in CFB Wainwright training fire

EDMONTON · A funeral service was held in Edmonton on Sunday for Sgt. Morgan Wong, a 26-year-old soldier killed in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright last week. The funeral home was full as eight service members carried his casket, draped in a Canadian flag, to the front of the room. The flag was later replaced with a traditional yellow descendants' blanket as part of Buddhist funeral customs. Wong was a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment who served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

His sister, Megan, remembered him as brave, warm and hilarious. "Each one of us has our own special memories of Morgan, and I hope holding onto those memories will remind us to live our lives with courage and integrity, like he did," she said during the service. She added that he was too young when he left, but she hoped his life would remind others to use their time well. The family also offered condolences to the other soldiers who died and were injured at CFB Wainwright.

The fire occurred on Oct. 17 during a training exercise, first reported in the base's grenade launcher range, a permanent danger area base firefighters could not enter. Strong winds spread the flames quickly, overwhelming service members and burning beyond the base. The fire caused dozens of casualties and killed four service members, including Wong. He had joined the military in 2017 and was training at CFB Wainwright to prepare for a second deployment to Europe.

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Lt.-Col. Bryn Wright, commanding officer of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, said in a written statement that the love Canadians have shown for Wong meant more than could be explained. "We will always remember him, and his family will forever be part of our family," Wright said. During the service, Wright shared stories of Wong's dedication to service and his discipline in holding trainees to the highest standard. "Passionate, professional, committed to excellence, that was Sgt. Morgan Wong," he said, adding that every service member in attendance would carry his example with them.

Fellow service members and longtime friends also shared stories highlighting his humour, integrity, generosity and willingness to help. One childhood friend shared anecdotes about their shared disdain for the Kansas City Chiefs and Wong's love for boneless chicken wings at Boston Pizza. Since his death, friends and people he volunteered with have described him as a passionate volunteer and a mentor. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and some city councillors attended the service. Afterward, Knack told reporters he was happy the community could come together to celebrate Wong's life and his impact. "This is somebody who, no matter who you were, was there to support you," Knack said. "It’s impossible to replace someone like that, who’s given so much." He added he hopes Canadians can practise the level of care Wong showed for others moving forward.

With files from The Canadian Press and CBC News