Grey Cup arrives in Calgary with military escort to Mewata Armoury, honouring four soldiers killed at CFB Wainwright

The Canadian Football League's championship trophy, the Grey Cup, arrived in Calgary on Monday (November 9) to the sound of bagpipes and a Canadian Forces escort, transported by horse-drawn wagon to the Mewata Armoury before being marched inside by soldiers. The opening ceremony of Grey Cup week also honoured the four soldiers killed during a training exercise at CFB Wainwright in Alberta on October 17. (Photo: file photo of the Grey Cup. Photo: CFL.)

The four soldiers who died

On October 17, strong and sudden winds sent flames from a nearby grass fire racing toward a group of 84 soldiers who were training. Four were killed and dozens injured. The soldiers who died were from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry: Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver, B.C.; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton.

“The beginning of a celebration, and a moment of reflection”

Col. Kyle Clapperton, commander of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, choked up during the ceremony. He said the arrival of the CFL's championship trophy is both the beginning of a celebration and a moment of reflection, adding: “This year that reflection carries special significance.” He said many of the injured soldiers are reservists from 41 Brigade who serve in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Calgary Highlanders, and added: “We also keep the many injured soldiers, their families, their friends and their comrades in our thoughts as we wish them the best recovery possible.”

League commissioner: more than a century of Canadian stories arriving

CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said the league knows the Armed Forces community and many people in Alberta are carrying an enormous loss. “This is a kickoff to a weeklong celebration and it will be that, but we know for the Canadian Armed Forces' community, and for so many people here in Alberta, you're carrying an enormous loss after the tragedy at CFB Wainwright,” he said. He added that for more than a century, the Grey Cup has travelled through Canadian history, celebrated in times of joy and carried by Canadians in times of sacrifice: “There is something especially meaningful about having members of the Canadian Armed Forces help carry it to Calgary today. This isn't just a trophy arriving in a city, it's more than a century of Canadian stories arriving with it.”

Sunday's final: Edmonton against Montreal

The 113th Grey Cup will be played on Sunday at Calgary's McMahon Stadium, with the Edmonton Elks facing the Montreal Alouettes. Guests at the arrival ceremony included Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas.