Wainwright, Alta., is preparing for a Remembrance Day ceremony overshadowed by the deaths of four soldiers in an October grass fire at the nearby Canadian Forces base.

Hundreds of military personnel, residents and dignitaries are expected at the town’s ice rink on Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to reporting by Fakiha Baig of The Canadian Press, published by Global News. Flowers and wreaths will also be placed at the downtown clock tower, which commemorates Canadians killed in the First and Second World Wars.

“It will be different this year just with the weight of what happened,” Mayor Bruce Pugh said. “Wainwright is a military community and it’s a big family.”

The Oct. 17 fire killed four soldiers and injured 39. Officials said last week that 25 of the injured remained in various hospitals.

Roughly 84 soldiers with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry were taking part in a field exercise when strong, sudden winds pushed a grass fire into their path. Three investigations are examining what happened.

Those killed were Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton; Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver, B.C.; and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.

The town of about 7,000, roughly 210 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, has deep ties to the base. Military families attend local schools and take part in community sports, while residents are accustomed to the sounds of training exercises.

CN Rail said it plans to station locomotives outside the arena for the ceremony. Among those injured was Cpl. Sean Hiatt, 24, a Loyal Edmonton Regiment member who also worked as a railway track maintenance supervisor for CN.

Last week’s federal budget promised $25 million over two years to support those affected by the fire.

“We’re worried about our CAF friends,” Pugh said. “I know they have tremendous support and strength, but how can you go through an event like that and not have a scar?”

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