A Saanich councillor is mourning her older brother, a pilot who was one of four people killed in a float plane crash north of Port Hardy last week.

Coun. Natalie Chambers confirmed in an emotional Facebook post that her brother Al McBain was killed in the crash on Addenbroke Island Friday.

"I am very extremely devastated and heartbroken to announce the death of my dear brother Al McBain. I love you," wrote Chambers.

McBain has been identified as the pilot of the Seair Seaplanes Cessna 208 Caravan that went down on the island, about 100 kilometres north of Port Hardy. The plane was heading to a fishing lodge on Calvert Island when it crashed.

Four people were killed and five people survived the crash. Of the survivors, two were seriously injured and three were in stable condition.

On the weekend, others took to social media to remember McBain as a passionate, skilled pilot.

"You died doing what you love," wrote Rob Hilditch. "Your skills certainly saved the five survivors. You will be missed greatly."

A friend of McBain's who went to flight school with him said he came from a family of pilots.

"He was a really dedicated pilot, very safe, not taking any risks. I don’t understand what happened in this crash," said Jean-Pierre Riffard. "I'm sure the passengers were in the safest hands possible as he had excellent decision making."

The other passengers killed have not been publicly identified.

Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board arrived at Addenbroke Island Sunday to begin their probe into what caused the crash.

A statement from Ole's Hakai Pass Fishing Lodge on Calvert Island said it could confirm the float plane that crashed was destined for its lodge.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our guests and their families,” the brief statement said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson praised the rescue efforts as they visited the Vancouver Coast Guard station on Monday.

“I would like to thank the Canadian Coast Guard personnel and others, including personnel from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Canadian Armed Forces, BC Ferries and B.C. Emergency Health Services who responded to the scene and endeavoured to provide assistance,” Wilkinson said.

Chambers said she doesn't know why the crash occurred but has learned the weather in the area was extremely poor.

She described her brother as a compassionate person who lived to help people and meet all challenges.

“He was like a total adventurer, nature photographer, videographer, pilot. He was a mechanic. He was obsessed with MG's for many years and then he went into Volkswagen vans, and then pretty much airplanes.”

The names of the other crash victims have not been made public.

The BC Coroners Service said in a statement Monday it is investigating the four deaths and work remains on confirming the identities of the victims.

“The recovery of the deceased is now complete and they are being transported by federal agencies for examination by a coroner to confirm identification. Until that process is complete, we will not be able to provide age ranges or home towns of the decedents,” the statement said.

Through tears, Chambers said it was strangely fitting that the flight rescue squadron her father was once part of was sent to find her brother.

She says their late father Maj. John Harold McBain had been a pilot for the Comox 442 Rescue Squadron that was dispatched after the crash Friday to investigate and help rescue the five others who were injured.

“My father was a 442 Squadron pilot and coincidentally that was who went and rescued the plane, and my dad really influenced my brothers,” Chambers said.

She said she and her two brothers, John and Al, were part of a military family that lived across Canada and was also stationed in Europe. Her brothers were both born in France, said Chambers.

“Basically, our whole lives we were military kids,” she said. “We've done the Canada milk run. We've been to the north. We've been to the south and we've lived at or near airports.

“Allen used to sit on my dad's knees with my brother and they would watch lift offs and take offs their whole lives.”