English
When a fire tore through CFB Wainwright on October 17, killing four soldiers and injuring 39 others, Cheryl Ramage was at a dinner theatre. Friends sent her a text asking if her boys were okay. She had no idea what they meant.
Cheryl is the proud mother of two sons serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Both were training at the base southeast of Edmonton when the fire broke out during a military exercise. She immediately texted them both. Her son Rowan replied quickly and confirmed he was safe. Her eldest son, Liam, did not respond.
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A Knock at the Door
Cheryl contacted Liam’s wife, Marisa Ramage, who had also been unable to reach him. The two women met at Liam and Marisa’s home at the Edmonton Garrison. They searched online for information through the night. At 3 a.m., they learned the military was limiting communications while notifying next of kin.
Then the doorbell rang. Military officers entered and told them they had devastating news. Marisa feared the worst. She said she could not stop shaking. “I thought Liam was dead,” she said. She interrupted the officers before they could finish. “He’s not dead, right?” she asked. They confirmed he was alive, but told her his injuries were severe.
The two women rushed immediately to Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. The scene inside was difficult to bear. “We had to identify him by his feet,” Cheryl said. Doctors told the family that burns covered 40 per cent of Private Liam Ramage’s body, including his face, head, neck, hands, arms, legs and parts of his back.
In a quiet moment alone with her husband of three years, Marisa leaned close and whispered to him. “You are too stubborn to die and there is no way that you’re not making it through this.”
A Long Road to Recovery
Since that night, the 27-year-old from Red Deer County has undergone multiple surgeries and skin grafts. However, the full extent of his injuries remains unclear. He cannot see when he wakes up, cannot speak and has very limited movement. His mother said blood donors have already helped save his life. She is urging others to donate blood as well.
Despite his own critical condition, first responders reportedly found Pte. Ramage still trying to help fellow soldiers when they arrived. That did not surprise his wife. “He loves to help people,” Marisa said.
The family is now seeing small but meaningful signs of progress. Pte. Ramage can move his right arm and foot. He can nod yes or no and move his mouth. “It’s nice to see him improve,” Marisa said.
A Lifelong Passion for Service
Cheryl said her son had always dreamed of a military career. He first experienced military life through cadets, where he rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 2024. Since then, he has served in Latvia and at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Outside of his service, Pte. Ramage loves playing bagpipes, cooking and hockey. He is a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan. His family brought a radio to his hospital room this week so they can listen to games together as he recovers.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover what they expect will be months or even years of rehabilitation and surgeries. They are grateful for the support of the military and plan to remain by Pte. Ramage’s side every day. The CFB Wainwright fire remains under investigation.
