A 19-year-old man from the Fraser Valley is one of two British Columbians killed in a Canadian Armed Forces exercise at CFB Wainwright in Alberta over the weekend. The CAF has confirmed four fatalities in the incident and said dozens more were injured, including 19 critically. Pte. Hayden Lykkemark grew up in Langley, and those who knew him say he lived to serve others. Nadine Dunford opened her home and her heart to Lykkemark, and says as a foster mom she watched him flourish from a shy teen into the young man who proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces. “He really wanted to be a cop. That was his biggest dream. ‘I want to be a police officer,’” she said in an interview with CTV News. “And I said the best way to do that is to get into the military.” Lykkemark joined the military shortly after graduating from high school in Langley. His family and friends say just ten months into his enlistment, he was already considering making it a long-term career. Recalling the moment she learned Lykkemark had been killed, Dunford broke down crying. “It’s just not fair. It was a training exercise. And I get it, accidents happen. But why?” she said with tears streaming down her face. It’s a question Caden Orr struggles with as well. He and Lykkemark were inseparable best friends in high school who both enjoyed sports and hiking. Orr told CTV News that the pair would wake up at 4 a.m. most days so they could meet at the gym and get a workout in before heading to class. Orr recalls his friend being someone people knew they could turn to when they needed help. “He’ll forever be my best friend, right? I don’t think anyone could fill the same space that he had in my heart,” Orr said. “He’s the greatest friend I could have asked for. He was always there for me.” In addition to serving in the military, Lykkemark also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Langley as a way to give back to an organization that helped him when he was growing up. Dunford last spoke to Lykkemark on Tuesday. She said he was excited to be taking part in the training exercise at CFB Wainwright and looking forward to deploying overseas. “He was just starting to grow into himself. And he was starting to really enjoy everything,” she said through sobs. “And he was getting his career going. And he was such a good kid.” Pte. Aidan Goulding from North Vancouver, Sgt. Morgan Wong and Pte. Shaun Farrell are the other soldiers who died in Saturday’s incident.
