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News July 1, 2026

Oliveira: “It will always be a special feeling for me.”

@EdTaitWFC

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.

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

“Whether it’s Canada Day or not, this is something I really cherish,” Oliveira said on Wednesday after the club’s practice at Fort Garry Lions Field as Canada Day celebrations took place at Princess Auto Stadium. “It will always be a special feeling for me. And there’s always these special moments for however long this lasts for playing for my hometown and being a Canadian and playing in this special league.

“This league has given so many Canadians an opportunity to play in their home country on their home soil. All of us Canadians — not just on our team — are great ambassadors for this league and don’t take that lightly.”

The Blue Bombers, as a franchise, have been built on Canadian bedrock what with the ‘Canadian Mafia’ in important positions from President & CEO Wade Miller of Winnipeg, GM Kyle Walters of St. Thomas, ON and head coach Mike O’Shea of North Bay, ON.

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.

Oliveira, as everyone knows, has been sensational since replacing Andrew Harris in the Blue Bombers backfield. He’s posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2023 and 2024, the CFL’s 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).

That isn’t lost on him, too — the hometown product doing historic things with his hometown team.

“I’ve 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,” said Oliveira, selected by the club in the second round, 14th overall, in 2019. “It’s not like that everywhere else. I’m very proud being a Canadian in this league but also being in a position that has been predominantly American. I’m 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.

“I’m sure Andrew had the same mindset. You want to hold it closely and for whoever the next guy is, let’s hope it’s a Canadian and we can pass the torch.”

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.

“We’ve got a great country,” said O’Shea after practice. “These 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’re here and a lot of them stay.

“That’s 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.”

Here’s a complete list of the Blue Bombers Canadians and their hometowns:

MANITOBA

Nic Demski

RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg
SB Nic Demski, Winnipeg
DT Collin Kornelson, Winnipeg

ONTARIO

Cam Lawson

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

QUEBEC

Redha Kramdi

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

BRITSH COLUMBIA

Gabe Wallace

OL Tui Eli, Richmond
OL Gabe Wallace, Salmon Arm
WR Gavin Cobb, Victoria
LB Brody Clark, Delta

ALBERTA

Nuer Gatkuoth

DE Nuer Gatkuoth, Edmonton
RB Matthew Peterson, Brooks

SASKATCHEWAN

Pat Neufeld

OL Pat Neufeld, Regina
OL Ethan Vibert, Regina
DB Ethan Ball, Regina,
LB Lane Novak, Balgonie
DT Tanner Schmekel, Regina

OTHER

Connor Shay

LB Connor Shay, Danville, CA (Father was born in Charlottetown, PEI to allow him to have National status)

OUCH REPORT: The Blue Bombers are still a few days away from Sunday’s date in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats, but here is Wednesday’s injury report:

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