Canadian soldier’s remains to returned to Canada
Posted June 22, 2019 8:15 pm.
OTTAWA — The remains of the Canadian soldier killed in a parachute-training exercise in Bulgaria are home in Canada.
Bombardier Patrick Labrie was a six-year veteran of the Canadian Forces and was most recently based out of CFB Petawawa.
Members of Labrie’s family travelled to Bulgaria to escort his body back to Ottawa following his death on Monday. He died after something went wrong in a training jump from a low altitude.
When they arrived, they were greeted by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, defence chief General Jonathan Vance and members of Labrie’s unit.
They stood silently as Labrie’s casket was slowly unloaded from the massive hold of a military plane.
His parents spoke during a short, sombre ceremony, telling everyone about their son’s desire from an early age to join the military.
His father Jean Labrie and mother Julie Rivard also spoke about the devastation of losing their son _ and their hope that a similar tragedy doesn’t befall anyone else.
Military police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Labrie’s death and his body is being sent to Canada for an autopsy.
At least three other soldiers were injured in the U.S.-led exercise, including two Americans, but the Defence Department says those came in separate incidents
