The Manitoba Hydro community experienced a profound loss in December with the passing of Power Line Technician Kurt Malenchak (Eastman). A dedicated tradesperson, colleague, and friend, Kurt is remembered for his skill, humility, and the kindness he showed to everyone around him.

As his family and coworkers continue to navigate this difficult time, one of Kurt’s closest friends has stepped forward to support the person who meant the most to Kurt — his five‑year‑old daughter.

A Lifelong Friendship

Gage Van Alstyne (TSO&M Converter Stations North) and Kurt grew up together in Gillam, a community deeply connected to Hydro. Their friendship began in kindergarten and continued through school, sports, and eventually into their careers.

“Kurt and I grew up in a Hydro town. Both our parents worked for Hydro, and we followed in their footsteps,” Gage said. “He started at Radisson Converter Station through a high school apprenticeship in 2010, and I started there in 2009. He eventually became a Power Line Technician and travelled across the province, working on everything from live line to helicopter‑assisted line work. I stayed in Gillam as an operating electrical technician before moving into my current role.”  

Despite living in different parts of the province, the two remained close — visiting each other in the summers and getting their children together.

“My kids are around the same age as his daughter. They remember ‘Uncle Kurt’ as the uncle who had chickens — something pretty unusual for us northern folks,” Gage said.

Losing a member of the pack

Gage shared a memory that reflects Kurt’s character — calm, selfless, and steady even in the most unexpected moments.

While camping at a remote fly‑in lake between Gillam and Churchill, Gage, Kurt, and their friend Brett had just come off the water after a cold, rainy night. Gage and Brett hurried into the tent to warm up, while Kurt, still cold and hungry, stayed behind to tie up and fuel the boat for the next morning — always the one to make sure things were ready for everyone else. Kurt never complained.

The boat was roughly 1,200 feet from the tent, and as Kurt began walking back toward camp, something caught his attention in his small headlamp. Moments later, he called out from the distance.

Gage and Brett ran toward him with a flashlight, only to hear him yell back: “Where is your gun?”

A white wolf had begun following Kurt, closing the distance to about fifteen feet and still closing in as he tried to walk calmly back toward the tent without provoking it. The two scrambled for a rifle and light to help him. The wolf was eventually taken down.

But the most remarkable part of the story came afterward.

Once the three were back in the tent, the trees around them fell silent — until a large wolf pack began to gather. In the pitch‑black night, they could hear wolves surrounding the tent on all sides.

“There must have been thirty of them,” Gage said. “It was a healthy pack, which also explained why we hadn’t seen any game.”

What happened next left all three men stunned. The wolves began calling out for their missing pack member. Each had a distinct howl, a unique call that echoed through the darkness.

The men quietly recorded the sounds as the wolves continued their calls — voices that grew more sorrowful as time passed and the pack seemed to realize their member was gone.

“It was their way to communicate to each other in a way we have never known,” Gage said.

The haunting chorus lasted nearly half an hour.

“It was one of the most incredible and humbling things I’ve ever experienced,” Gage said. “It’s something we never forgot.”

Supporting Kurt’s Daughter

As the loss of Kurt continues to be felt across the Hydro community, Gage has organized a private, not‑for‑profit fundraiser to support Kurt’s daughter as she grows up.

“There’s nothing that can replace a father,” Gage said. “But the best thing I can do now is help set up a fund that supports her throughout her life.”

Kurt was a passionate outdoorsman and often guided at Munroe Lake Lodge. He even co-created a clothing brand connected to the lodge called Bush Clout. For Gage, incorporating the lodge and Kurt’s designs into the fundraiser felt like a natural fit.

Bringing the Community Together

Kurt made friends across the province — through his work, his travels, and events like the Dirt Cup hockey tournament. Gage hopes the trades and PLT communities will come together in Kurt’s memory.

“So many people have reached out with stories about how Kurt made a positive impact on their lives,” Gage said. “He was the kind of person who always made sure everyone else was taken care of first.”

Fundraiser Details

Donations are being accepted to raise funds for Kurt’s daughter.

Each $100 donation includes your choice of a memorial hat or mug, along with an entry to win a free fishing trip for two at Munroe Lake Lodge.

Available items:

·    #1 Black Munroe Lake Lodge hat with leather logo and KM initials

·    #2 Orange Munroe Lake Lodge hat with leather logo and KM initials

·    #3 Black Bush Clout hat with yellow logo and KM initials

·    #4 Black 304 mug with Kurt’s Bush Clout logo

·    #5 Green 304 mug with Kurt’s Bush Clout logo

Any item is $100, and each purchase counts as one entry.

How to Order

Send an e‑transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include:

·    Full name

·    Phone number

·    Mailing address

·    Merchandise number(s)

·    Email address

All items will be ordered and mailed by the end of March. The fundraiser runs until March 31, 2026.

For more information, contact Gage directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Post-Script: Bush Clout: The Origin Story (That Never Quite Took Off)

All of the proceeds from Bush Clout merchandise are going to Kurt’s daughter.

Bush Clout started as one of those “million‑dollar ideas” that Kurt and his close friend — and Munroe Lake Lodge manager — Tyson came up with. The name was solid. The vision was big. The execution … well, that part was a little fuzzy.

It became a running joke among the group. Over drinks, the two would talk about turning Bush Clout into the next great northern clothing brand, but neither of them had the faintest idea how to actually launch a brand, build a website, or even buy a domain.

Enter Brady — another close friend, Gage’s cousin, and a professional in online marketing. Brady thought it would be hilarious to buy the Bush Clout domain before Kurt and Tyson figured out how to do it. And he did. Instantly.

From that moment on, the domain became a bargaining chip. Anytime Kurt or Tyson didn’t want to do something, the boys would remind them,

“Careful … we own the website. We can make Bush Clout whatever we want.” The threat of a very questionable, very public Bush Clout website kept the jokes alive for years.

It was all in good fun, and exactly the kind of lighthearted chaos that defined their friendship.

“We’ve done small batches of hats in the past, and people are always asking what the name is all about,” Gage said. “So now you know.”