Alberta

Mrs. Avril Dianna Stachnik of Waskateneau, Alberta, was named the 2008 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2008, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On September 3, 2006, her son, Sergeant Shane Hank Stachnik, a combat military engineer, was killed in an ambush while leading his section during Operation Medusa; a ground offensive against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.

Mrs. Stachnik was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and attended Jasper Place Composite High School. In 1971 she married Hank Stachnik. Together, they raised two children, Shane and Deanna.

In an interview, she relayed what an honour it was to be chosen to represent the mothers and families of fallen solider and commented on her son. "Shane was just a regular guy. He didn’t put on any false airs, but he was a good leader and a good role model; very kind and personable."

The passage of time is helping to ease the burden of their son’s death but Mrs. Stachnik says, “You never forget. You’re always thinking about him.”

Candy Greff calls Lacombe, Alberta home, and has for many years. She was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and was raised mainly in the town of Radville where she later met her husband, Greg. As a Licensed Practical Nurse over 33 years, she received her certification in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and was immersed in a profession in which selflessness and a gregarious nature are virtues. Candy and her husband Greg had three children including Byron, Chelsey and Dustin – and are happy grandparents of eight.

As the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother, Mrs. Greff will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial on 11 November 2022 on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or a daughter in the military either in action or in the course of his/her normal duty. Throughout the year she will also be called upon to perform other duties honouring the Fallen from all conflicts.  

She lost her son Master Corporal Byron Greff, on 29 October 2011, who was riding inside an armoured NATO bus when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-filled car which impacted the bus. He was the first Canadian soldier to die during that particular training mission, and the last Canadian soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan.