Oliveira goes to the dogs on Bombers’ bye week

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This article was published 25/09/2022 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brady Oliveira finally had the time to answer when opportunity knocked.

Oliveira, the Bombers’ bell-cow running back, received a call ahead of the team’s recent bye week. It was K9 Advocates Manitoba, the non-profit organization the 25-year-old works with to save stray and injured dogs in rural First Nation communities across the province.

There was a rescue they needed the Winnipeg native for, and in a matter of moments, his plans for the week off were set.

Last week, Oliveira drove to Sandy Bay First Nation, about two hours northwest of Winnipeg, on a mission to save a mother and her eight puppies that were homeless and living on a resident’s property.

“It was a big litter,” Oliveira said.

“I do lots of work in that community, specifically. I’ve been there a handful of times and I just like to be a positive role model for the community members there.”

Oliveira conceded any in-season missions give him a chance to take his mind off football for a moment, but that his demanding schedule with the Bombers prevents him from donating as much time as he’d like to one of his favourite pastimes.

“It’s such a strong passion of mine. Me being from Winnipeg and being from this province, it’s a bad issue we got going on with overpopulation of canines and just animals in general.

“We’re getting into the time of the year now where you’d like to make a strong push as rescuers just because the cold weather is going to start to hit and puppies at that age will not survive. There’s been times when I’ve had to dig into a doghouse, digging out puppies, and some of them are rock solid, frozen dead. So, I’ve seen a lot.”

The litter from Sandy Bay First Nation was a relatively healthy one, due to the local resident nursing the mother and her babies until help arrived, Oliveira said. The pups will spend the next couple of weeks with a foster until they are sent out of the province to be adopted.

What many use as a week to recharge with some extra rest, Olivera kept busy during the break with a rescue mission and a trip with his teammate.

Oliveira sat next to receiver Rasheed Bailey on the flight from Hamilton when an inevitable topic arose: their plans for the bye week.

When Oliveira mentioned his plans to visit his alma mater, the University of North Dakota, Bailey eagerly offered to join his teammate and speak to this year’s squad.

“He’s so passionate,” Oliveira said. “He’s such a passionate guy in general, but he’s just so passionate about his voice, right? I mean, that’s a gift of his to serve by using his voice.”

Oliveira set up a meet-and-greet with his former coaches and the players after a practice for Bailey to speak whatever was on his mind.

“I was beautiful, man,” said Bailey. “It was an opportunity for me to share my passion and my heart with a different crowd, a different group. I’m so used to going back to my college and doing little speeches wherever I can book places to go do but this was a special one where I was able to to go to his alma mater, check out his school, check out where he gets his roots from and it was good.”

“It was all around, one of those moments where I’m continuing to build and serve and do what God has put me on this earth to do.”

The duo made it a one-day trip, leaving Manitoba’s capital at 6 a.m. and returning around 7 p.m.. During the getaway, they made a stop at a local elementary school, where Bailey spread more inspirational words to an even younger group.

“We’re coming out of a bad place in COVID and, especially with our kids, they lack the confidence that they need in order to be successful. Some of them face depression and anxiety. My biggest message is for them not to lose hope and to always keep dreaming.”

“I think it’s important for us as professional athletes… why not use your voice? I’m very big on not just being an athlete, but just being somebody who can motivate others and inspire people to never give up. And that’s important to me. I’ve felt I figured out my gift a long time ago and I just gotta continue to keep using it and continue to keep serving and doing what I’m placed on this earth to do.”

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam

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