{"id":774723,"date":"2026-07-02T04:20:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T04:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/774723\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T04:20:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T04:20:25","slug":"oliveira-it-will-always-be-a-special-feeling-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/774723\/","title":{"rendered":"Oliveira: “It will always be a special feeling for me.”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brady Oliveira is one of the faces of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and a flag waver for all the homegrown talent in the Canadian Football League.<\/p>\n

And so on a day like today \u2014 Happy 159th, Canada \u2014 it seemed only fitting to visit with a man who stands on guard for thee as much as any Canadian on the roster.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s Canada Day or not, this is something I really cherish,\u201d Oliveira said on Wednesday after the club\u2019s practice at Fort Garry Lions Field as Canada Day celebrations took place at Princess Auto Stadium. \u201cIt will always be a special feeling for me. And there\u2019s always these special moments for however long this lasts for playing for my hometown and being a Canadian and playing in this special league.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis league has given so many Canadians an opportunity to play in their home country on their home soil. All of us Canadians \u2014 not just on our team \u2014 are great ambassadors for this league and don\u2019t take that lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers, as a franchise, have been built on Canadian bedrock what with the \u2018Canadian Mafia\u2019 in important positions from President & CEO Wade Miller of Winnipeg, GM Kyle Walters of St. Thomas, ON and head coach Mike O\u2019Shea of North Bay, ON.<\/p>\n

The organization has also been the only team to earn a supplemental pick at the end of the second round in each of the last three CFL Canadian Drafts, earned for being one of the top two teams in terms of Canadian snaps in a season.<\/p>\n

Oliveira, as everyone knows, has been sensational since replacing Andrew Harris in the Blue Bombers backfield. He\u2019s posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, was the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2023 and 2024, the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Player in 2024 and earlier this year moved past Gerry James into fifth place in franchise history in career rushing yards, now at 5,702 and closing in on Jim Washington (5.736) while also behind only Charles Roberts (9,987), Leo Lewis (8,861) and Willard Reaves (5,923).<\/p>\n

That isn\u2019t lost on him, too \u2014 the hometown product doing historic things with his hometown team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very fortunate to be with the same team my whole career, since 2019 and being drafted here, where the position was already Canadian with Andrew,\u201d said Oliveira, selected by the club in the second round, 14th overall, in 2019. \u201cIt\u2019s not like that everywhere else. I\u2019m very proud being a Canadian in this league but also being in a position that has been predominantly American. I\u2019m the only Canadian starting at running back in this league right now and, for me, I really want to hold onto to that as tightly as I can and hold it to my heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Andrew had the same mindset. You want to hold it closely and for whoever the next guy is, let\u2019s hope it\u2019s a Canadian and we can pass the torch.\u201d<\/p>\n

These boys are built in Canada. \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n

Happy Canada Day from all of us to you! \ud83e\udece #ForTheW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/t1YhFqGm9D<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Americans who now play for the Blue Bombers have also embraced this country. Trey Vaval and Willie Jefferson were both wearing red T-shirts under their practice jerseys on Wednesday with Jefferson wishing the spectators who had gathered a Happy Canada Day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great country,\u201d said O\u2019Shea after practice. \u201cThese guys come up here and a lot of them know about Canada, but when they get immersed into our community especially in Winnipeg, they feel a sense of home while they\u2019re here and a lot of them stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a great indicator of what a great city we have and a great country. It is exciting. I do get fired up when I see these young guys really embrace it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a complete list of the Blue Bombers Canadians and their hometowns:<\/p>\n

MANITOBA
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Nic Demski<\/p>\n

RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg
SB Nic Demski, Winnipeg
DT Collin Kornelson, Winnipeg<\/p>\n

ONTARIO
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Cam Lawson<\/p>\n

LB Tanner Cadwallader, Georgetown
DT Cam Lawson, Caledon
DB Nick Hallett, London
LB Jaylen Smith, Hamilton
QB Taylor Elgersma London
FB Michael Chris-Ike, Hamilton
TE Dante Daniels, Windsor
DB Jake Kelly, Markham
WR Tommy Nield, Guelph
EB Ethan Stuart, Oakville<\/p>\n

QUEBEC
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Redha Kramdi<\/p>\n

DB Redha Kramdi, Montreal
WR Kevens Clercius, Montreal
WR Joey Corcoran, Montreal
LS Ian Leroux, Quebec City
LB Charles-Elliott Bouliane, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville<\/p>\n

BRITSH COLUMBIA
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Gabe Wallace<\/p>\n

OL Tui Eli, Richmond
OL Gabe Wallace, Salmon Arm
WR Gavin Cobb, Victoria
LB Brody Clark, Delta<\/p>\n

ALBERTA
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Nuer Gatkuoth<\/p>\n

DE Nuer Gatkuoth, Edmonton
RB Matthew Peterson, Brooks<\/p>\n

SASKATCHEWAN
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Pat Neufeld<\/p>\n

OL Pat Neufeld, Regina
OL Ethan Vibert, Regina
DB Ethan Ball, Regina,
LB Lane Novak, Balgonie
DT Tanner Schmekel, Regina<\/p>\n

OTHER
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Connor Shay<\/p>\n

LB Connor Shay, Danville, CA (Father was born in Charlottetown, PEI to allow him to have National status)<\/p>\n

OUCH REPORT: The Blue Bombers are still a few days away from Sunday\u2019s date in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats, but here is Wednesday\u2019s injury report:<\/p>\n

Injury Report: July 1, 2026#ForTheW<\/a> | @DoctorsManitoba<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4Yo0zW9V0h<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

ICYMI: In our latest episode of The Huddle, we had a good visit with receiver Tommy Nield. That episode \u2014 and all previous episodes plus our Handled Internally Podcast \u2014 can be found on the Blue Bombers YouTube page.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n