Head-on crash kills Royal Canoe bassist, partner in western Manitoba on Canada Day

CBC News

· Posted: Jul 02, 2025 1:44 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

The bassist successful Winnipeg indie-pop set Royal Canoe and his partner died connected Canada Day aft the conveyance they were successful was struck on a road successful occidental Manitoba, RCMP say.

Brendan Berg and his partner,  Olivia Michalczuk, died Tuesday, Royal Canoe said successful a connection connected Instagram. Berg would person turned 43 Wednesday, the set said. Michalczuk was 31.

"We are each successful a authorities of daze trying to process this tragic news. Brendan was the kindest, sweetest antheral you could ever know, and his passing has near an tremendous and abrupt spread successful the lives of everyone who knew him," the set stated on Instagram.

In a statement, Manitoba RCMP said they responded to a head-on collision astatine astir 3:30 p.m. on Canada Day on Highway 10, astir 3 kilometres northbound of Bowsman, a assemblage northbound of Duck Mountain Provincial Park. The tract of the mishap was approximately 280 kilometres northwest of Brandon.

The 2 vehicles were successful a ditch and 1 was overturned when constabulary got there. Paramedics and firefighters were helping the occupants of the cars, the RCMP stated.

Investigators judge 1 of the vehicles was headed southbound connected Highway 10 erstwhile it veered implicit the centre enactment and crashed into a parked conveyance sitting connected the eastbound borderline of the highway, causing it to rotation into the ditch, RCMP stated.

Berg and Michalczuk were successful the conveyance that rolled over. They were some taken to infirmary and aboriginal succumbed to their injuries, the Mounties said.

The operator of the different vehicle, a 36-year-old Winnipeg man, and a 29-year-old rider from Swan River were some taken to infirmary with captious injuries.

RCMP proceed to analyse the crash.

Royal Canoe said successful its connection Berg's positivity and considerate quality stabilized the set during 15 years of touring and recording.

"He was ever the archetypal to unpaid his clip to prime up the trailer from the store our load cogwheel retired aft tour," the set said. "His generosity and selflessness were legendary."