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Wife of Pilot Gould says ” he was our big teddy bear”

Whitecourt, AB, Canada / XM 105
Jul 24, 2023 | 12:48 PM
Wife of Pilot Gould says " he was our big teddy bear"

Photo Credit: Gould's



Whitecourt has been grieving the last few days as one of their own, Ryan Gould, passed away in a helicopter accident on July 20, attempting to help fight area wildfires.

Carlyn Gould, wife of Ryan, says he was an outstanding man.

“He was an incredibly loving and compassionate man, he was an amazing father, an amazing husband, the love of my life. He had a high degree of integrity, he was fiercely loyal to the people that were important to him, that went from myself, to his sons, his family, and to his work. He was a very driven person, he had a love of fast cars. He was really just a down to earth guy.”

On Wednesday, Gould’s helicopter crashed near Haig Lake, 438 kilometres north of Whitecourt, Alta. Gould was flying the aircraft alone.

In hopes of supporting Carlyn and her two sons, a GiveSendGo page was set up for people to send their support, which has already raised over $133,000 as of July 24, 2023.

“We are so humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” states Carlyn. “The support has come in through people that Ryan knew. I’ve been told there are people all over the world that have come to support us in our time of need. I can’t thank everyone enough because it is easing the stress and burden of the financial aspect of our reality so we can focus on the grief, processing how our life goes on without Ryan.”

“I just want to say that we are tremendously thankful for every single one of the people that have sent a note, contributed whatever they can,” adds Carlyn. “Because that is really helping us out and we really need it. I sincerely hope that in the future we as a family are in the position to pay it forward.”

The family issued a statement as well:

“It is with great sadness that the Gould family announces that Ryan Gould has passed away. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and co-workers. Ryan was operating a helicopter, fighting a forest fire in northern Alberta, when the accident occurred. The family is unaware of the cause.  
 
Ryan leaves behind his wife Carlyn and their two young sons Gus and Evan. Ryan is the son of Eric and Gail Gould. Ryan’s two older sisters are Jessie Mitton and Naomi Yanik. The family is heartbroken and appreciative of all the support they have been receiving. A celebration of life will be determined at a later date.
 
Ryan was born in Whitecourt, Alberta in 1982. After completing high school he went on to get his commercial helicopter license and returned home for his first job. He married Carlyn in 2009 and they moved to a few places in Southern Alberta while he was working as a commercial pilot. Recently, Ryan and Carlyn purchased a farm south of Whitecourt to set their roots. A peaceful place to call home.
 
Ryan was a skilled pilot and comes from a family of aviation. He traveled and made an impact wherever he went. Nicknamed “Panda” by his co-workers because he was a big guy with a big heart. His blue eyes and sense of humor are unforgettable.
 
The family is unprepared for this loss. Without Ryan, Caryln and the boys will need some support to keep the farm. There are people around the world that want to support the family in this time of need and the best way to do so is by donating to the link below. This support goes directly to his wife Carlyn and the boys.” 

People may show their support by visiting https://www.givesendgo.com/GAW9F.