Winnipeg's music community mourns loss of two of its own

Winnipeg Free Press

3 days ago

Family, friends and fans are mourning the unexpected loss of two influential figures in Winnipeg's music community.
Brendan Berg, longtime bassist for indie-pop band Royal Canoe, and his partner Olivia Michalczuk, a community organizer and avid music supporter, died Tuesday in a head-on collision on Highway 10 north of Swan River. The couple was on holiday.
Berg, who died on the eve of his 43rd birthday, and Michalczuk, 31, are being remembered for their respective creativity, compassion and ability to form deep bonds with those around them.
JULIO ASSIS PHOTO
Brendan Berg, 42, and Olivia Michalczuk, 31, died in a car accident on Canada Day.
Within hours of sharing news of the tragedy on social media, Royal Canoe had received hundreds of messages from followers around the world recounting meaningful run-ins with Berg.
Nobody in the band — which includes Matt Peters, Matt Schellenberg, Bucky Driedger, Derek Allard and Michael Jordan — was surprised at the response.
'He had a good buddy everywhere and it's not really an exaggeration,' Jordan says over a video call.
Berg joined Royal Canoe in 2010 as a virtuosic bassist and quickly became an integral member of the group.
'We needed someone who could play bass really well, who could also play keyboards, who could put up with all the neurotic energy in our band and Brendan just fit the bill so, so perfectly. He just charmed us from day one,' Peters says.
'Not only musically, but just in our band organism, he was the one quietly holding it down, steadying us, showing up in really shitty moments with smiles and positive vibes,' adds Driedger.
As a musician, Berg played with precision, joy and confidence — making 'maybe eight' onstage mistakes during his 15 years with the band. He was happy performing from the back row, where he could be seen grinning ear-to-ear and soaking up the moment.
JULIO ASSIS PHOTO
Brendan Berg and Olivia Michalczuk were both involved in Winnipeg's music scene.
As a bandmate, he was quick to take on the less glamorous aspects of touring: driving, booking accommodations and loading the van after gigs. The latter was often a drawn-out process, owing to his friendly nature.
'He was always the last one to pack up because he was always visiting after the show,' Jordan says, laughing.
He was a serial collaborator, playing with dozens of local bands and musicians, including Tele, Matas Touch, Mason Mele, Reverend Rambler, Begonia, Retro Rhythm Review and many others.
Gigs could not interfere with Lumbercats games — a beer-league hockey team formed with friends from the Riverview neighbourhood, where Berg grew up. He gave an equal amount of attention to interests beyond music, from literature to obscure cinema to film photography.
Berg was also a foodie. He brought a manual coffee-bean grinder on the road and was known for making gourmet van sandwiches and curating lists of restaurants to visit.
Schellenberg often copied Berg's restaurant order: 'He would always order something a little different and slightly more expensive.'
JORDAN WOOD PHOTO
Brendan Berg joined Royal Canoe in 2010 as a virtuosic bassist and quickly became an integral member of the group.
Winnipeg-born, London-based chef Mike Robbins and Berg became fast friends thanks to a shared love of food. When Robbins landed his first head chef job at Sydney's at The Forks, he enlisted Berg as his unofficial menu taster.
'He had a way of delivering the truth in such a gentle way and that's exactly what I needed,' Robbins says.
The pair later worked together at Sous Sol, one of several local eateries where Berg was employed.
'He was such a talented guy, an awesome bartender, a very good server and a very versatile musician,' Robbins says.
Berg and Michalczuk met nearly nine years ago at X-Cues Café and Lounge on Sargent Avenue, where she was working at the time.
'He was heightened by her and they were very much in love every time you saw them,' Jordan says.
Brendan Berg, left, and Matt Peters perform in Royal Canoe.
While her partner was widely known for his onstage career, Michalczuk made waves behind the scenes as an avid concert goer, music journalist and general booster.
'She was essential to the Winnipeg music scene,' Jen Doerksen says via email.
Doerksen and Michalczuk became best friends after meeting through concert promotion company Real Love Winnipeg and participating as jurors for the national Polaris Music Prize.
'She offered constant encouragement, creative ideas, thoughtful advice, and unfiltered honesty when she thought our ideas missed the mark. That kind of friend and support is rare and invaluable,' Real Love founders Adam Soloway and Gilad Carroll said via email.
Michalczuk, a jewelry and visual artist, wrote for The Manitoban and founded Paper Cut Winnipeg — a blog and podcast about the local music scene — with Jared Gauthier.
She worked in community development with the Exchange District BIZ, Spence Neighbourhood Association and, most recently, with the Government of Manitoba as a community planner, according to LinkedIn.
Olivia Michalczuk, a jewelry and visual artist, wrote for The Manitoban and founded Paper Cut Winnipeg.
'She had strong convictions, but that never stopped her from listening and considering others' experiences, ' Doerksen says of her friend.
'She brought a fire to everything she was part of — warm, loving, but also driven, exciting and illuminating.'
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Eva WasneyReporter
Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva.
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