A23-year-old Jewish man from North Vancouver was among four Canadian Armed Forces members killed Oct. 17 when a rapidly spreading grass fire overtook troops during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta.
Pte. Aidan Goulding, a member of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was remembered by his family as an athletic, ambitious young man whose infectious laughter and mischievous smile lifted the spirits of everyone around him.
After high school, Goulding became a successful mechanic but abandoned that career to serve his country. He hoped eventually to join special operations and later the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
His mother, Sonia Monk, and older brother, Wylder Goulding, described him in a statement reported by the Canadian Press as someone who loved his fellow soldiers and looked forward to an overseas deployment to Latvia.
“He was the guy that kept people’s spirits up, a contagious laugh and a cheeky smile,” they recalled.
Before leaving for basic training, Goulding told his family: “I know I have one life to live, and I’m gonna make the best out of it.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) issued an Oct. 20 statement identifying Goulding as “a beloved member of our Jewish community.”
CIJA and Jewish federations across Canada have launched a fundraising appeal to assist families affected by the tragedy, including those of injured soldiers.
Contributions through Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA will support the Together We Stand Foundation, established by Rick and Lillian Ekstein, children of Holocaust survivors who found refuge in Canada. The organization assists Canadian military families regardless of affiliation.
The fire also claimed the lives of Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, also from British Columbia. Dozens of soldiers were injured.
Military authorities are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.
