Man arrested for fatal crash that killed Royal Canoe bassist

A 37-year-old man has been arrested in a fatal crash last summer that killed three people, including the bassist from local indie pop band Royal Canoe.

Matthew Govereau was taken into custody on Saturday by Winnipeg Police Service officers in the city, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.

RCMP initially issued an arrest warrant for Govereau last month in connection with the July 1, 2025 head-on collision on Highway 10 north of Swan River.

Govereau remains in custody and is scheduled to make a court appearance in Winnipeg Tuesday.

Brendan Berg, bass player for Royal Canoe, and his partner, Olivia Michalczuk, died in the crash.

Berg joined Royal Canoe in 2010 and was well known in Winnipeg’s music scene. During his tenure, the indie-pop group received a Juno Award nomination in 2014. The same year, the group won best independent album at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

A 29-year-old passenger in Govereau’s vehicle was also killed.

RCMP said a vehicle heading south on the highway veered over the centre line and collided with the other vehicle, which was believed to be parked, facing north on the east side of the road.

Four people were rushed to hospital including Govereau, who had critical injuries but later recovered.

He now faces 18 charges, including three counts each of impaired driving causing death, careless driving and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

Govereau also faces several weapons and drug-related charges.

Govereau’s criminal record in Manitoba dates back to 2017 and includes convictions for drug possession, trafficking, possessing weapons and breaching court orders. He was also convicted of breaching the provincial Public Health Act amid COVID-19-related restrictions.

He pleaded guilty in 2022 to a robbery in Swan River in 2020. He was given time served and ordered to go for an assessment at a drug treatment centre.

Court heard his crime was tied to drug abuse.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca