Edmonton sergeant Morgan Wong remembered as quiet volunteer leader killed at CFB Wainwright
Wong, 26, of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, was volunteering with St. John Ambulance while training for his second military deployment when he died in the October 17 grass fire.
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Morgan Wong was 26, from Edmonton, serving with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment as part of 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He graduated from Harry Ainlay High School in south Edmonton and earned a bachelor of commerce from the University of Alberta before working as a financial analyst and manager with the Alberta government.
Wong joined the military in 2017. He deployed on Operation Reassurance to Latvia from October 2024 to June 2025 as his first tour, and was training at CFB Wainwright on October 17 to prepare for a second deployment in Europe when the grass fire broke out at approximately 4 p.m. and killed him along with three other service members.
Beyond uniform, Wong had given four years to St. John Ambulance as a medical first responder, beginning in 2022. Rhyneice Cook, community services and emergency response unit co-ordinator at St. John Ambulance Edmonton, said: "He had this real presence about him and we're definitely going to miss that on our team. He meant a lot to a lot of us." Cook described Wong as quiet, someone who took time to get to know people but had lots to say once you did. Wong was excited about his recent promotion to sergeant.
Wong's family issued a statement: "We loved Morgan very much and we are extremely proud of him. He was an incredible person who was always there whenever anyone needed him."
Wong worked a Post Malone concert at Commonwealth Stadium in summer 2026, a shift cut short by a severe thunderstorm. After learning of his death, Cook donated blood Monday morning. St. John Ambulance volunteers are brainstorming ways to honour Wong and support families of those still recovering in hospital.
The facts
Who was Morgan Wong?
Morgan Wong was a 26-year-old sergeant with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, part of 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He held a bachelor of commerce from the University of Alberta and worked as a financial analyst and manager with the Alberta government.
When and how did Morgan Wong die?
Wong died on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when a grass fire broke out at approximately 4 p.m. at CFB Wainwright. He was killed along with three other service members while training for a second military deployment.
How long did Morgan Wong volunteer with St. John Ambulance?
Wong gave four years to St. John Ambulance as a medical first responder, beginning in 2022.
Where had Morgan Wong deployed before his death?
Wong deployed on Operation Reassurance to Latvia from October 2024 to June 2025 as his first military tour.
