Working Collaboratively in Times of Emergency

October 19, 2026

The CRNA is deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, including those who have been injured, their loved ones and the broader military and surrounding communities facing the impact of this devastating event.

In times of crisis, the importance of a coordinated, responsive health-care system and the people who serve within it becomes especially clear. The CRNA recognizes the extraordinary demands that incidents of this nature can place on health-care resources and extends its support to the health-care professionals, military personnel and partner organizations working to respond to the needs of those affected.

To help address urgent nursing workforce needs during cases such as this, the CRNA recently amended its Emergency Registration Sub-Category of the register (Bylaw 4.4 – Bylaw 4: College Register). This amendment strengthens the CRNA’s ability to respond to urgent workforce needs when extraordinary circumstances place additional demands on the health-care system.

As Grace Brittain, Chair of the CRNA’s Council, expressed:

“Our collective prayers are with the injured, the families, the community and surrounding areas, and CFB Wainwright, all of whom are so deeply impacted by this tragedy.”

The CRNA stands ready to work collaboratively with our military, regulatory and health system partners to provide support within our mandate. This includes expediting regulatory processes where appropriate and working with our partners to address any regulatory barriers that may arise, helping facilitate timely access to nursing resources when and where they are needed.