Cold Lake Mourns the Tragic Loss of Shay Badger, As Community Honors Her Memory and Supports Grieving Family

In Cold Lake, Alberta, our community is grieving the tragic and heartbreaking loss of a little girl whose light touched so many — Shay Badger. Her life was taken far too soon, and in a way no child should ever experience. The weight of her absence is crushing, and the pain her family is enduring is something no words can truly hold.

Her family — brave, heartbroken, and full of love — stood together today as they received the unimaginable news from the detective. Shay had been found — but already gone. Not just lost, but taken in a cruel and devastating way. The hardest part? Not even knowing where she was. Her loved ones had to go to the scene to learn that Shay was already a town over… already gone.

“The worst part was not even knowing where she was… but we are thankful we were able to be with her, pray with her, smudge her, and sing for her — so she knows she is loved and that she wasn’t alone.”

In that sacred, heartbreaking moment, Shay’s family did what love and culture have always taught us to do: they surrounded her in tradition and spirit. They prayed. They smudged. They sang. They wrapped her in all the care she gave to this world — so she would know, even in passing, that she was never alone.

That’s how Shay Badger will be remembered.

Not by the horror. Not by the headlines. But by her big beautiful eyes, her radiant smile, and the huge, unforgettable personality that made everyone fall in love with her. She was joy. She was laughter. She was spirit and soul wrapped up in a little girl who deserved so much more time on this Earth.

“Rest easy, Shay. Give your momma, your Kohkom, and your Capan a kiss for us.”
These are the words of a grieving aunt — spoken with love, memory, and the unbreakable bond of family.

Shay was surrounded by strong women who stood by her — especially her aunt Nicawis Tania, who has done everything for her nieces and nephews with boundless care and selfless devotion. Her strength in this moment, and always, speaks volumes.

This isn’t just one family’s loss. This is Cold Lake’s loss. This is all of our loss.
And now, we stand beside the Badger family — in grief, in remembrance, and in solidarity.

If you’re reading this, hold your children close tonight. Say “I love you” more. And keep Shay Badger’s name alive. Remember her. Speak of her. And honor the joy she brought to this world, even in her short time here.

You were always loved, Shay.
And you will never, ever be forgotten.