Sgt. Morgan Wong remembered at Edmonton funeral

The Story

Family, friends and members of the Canadian Armed Forces filled the pews of an Edmonton funeral home on Sunday as Sgt. Morgan Wong, one of the soldiers killed in the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, was laid to rest.

All rose as Wong’s casket was carried in by pallbearers, draped in a Canadian flag that was then carefully folded and presented to a loved one. In a eulogy, Wong’s sister, Megan, described her brother as a loyal friend and problem-solver who dedicated himself to serving his community and country.

Wong, 26, was a reservist with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and served with 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He was one of four killed when a fast-moving fire overwhelmed soldiers during a training exercise at CFB Wainwright, with 39 others injured.

Megan said her brother joined the Armed Forces at 17, advanced through the ranks, and volunteered in 2024 to be deployed to Latvia, where he met his wife. She said they were married last December.

After returning from Latvia, Wong trained and mentored new recruits and was preparing for a second deployment abroad when he was killed. She also said he quit a civilian job earlier in the year to become an instructor for the Armed Forces.

Lt.-Col. Bryn Wright, commanding officer of Wong’s regiment, said Wong was “Dedicated to service, reliable, willing to put the regiment ahead of himself. That was Morgan Wong.” Wright said Wong’s cap badge and regimental coin, often referred to as a challenge coin, would be returned to his family. He said Morgan “carried his coin with him right to the end,” noting it was found in his pocket.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said after the service that Wong’s impact extended beyond his military service. He said: “(We) heard from so many of the people who had stories to share today that it’s not just his military service, it was his service to family, to loved ones, to friends, to community, that this is somebody who, no matter who you are, he was there to support you.” Knack added, “It’s impossible to replace someone like that, who’s given so much,” and said he hoped people would “take this opportunity” to live up to Wong’s legacy.

While the exact cause of the fire is unclear, Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan, head of military police, said it was sparked during a routine training event at an anti-grenade launcher range on the grounds. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, said training exercises were allowed to continue because the fire was considered sufficiently under control before high winds caused it to spread. Hanrahan said it is part of the military police investigation why training continued during the fire.