VANCOUVER — Brady Oliveira will need a bigger fireplace or, perhaps, designate a room in his house for his growing collection of awards and trinkets.

Twice crowned Canadian Football League champion, two-time CFL All-Star and already hailed as the Most Outstanding Canadian Player of the Loop a year ago, Oliveira won two more awards Thursday night, being named Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian Player. Second time player.

He becomes only the fourth player to win two of the league’s most prestigious awards in the same season, joining a list that includes CFL icons Russ Jackson (Ottawa Rough Riders, 1969), Tony Gabriel (Ottawa, 1978) and Jon Cornish (Calgary Stampeders). , 2013).

Oh, and there you have it: he just turned 27 in August.

“It’s amazing, man, to be here with two of the most prestigious awards in this incredible league that I’ve been watching since I was young,” Oliveira said after a gala at the Vancouver Convention Centre. “It’s a dream. It’s great.

“Having my name mentioned in the same sentence as these captions seems a little weird to me. I still feel like I’m young in my career. And especially (hearing his name mentioned in the same sentence) a guy like Jon Cornish. I grew up watching him play running back and dominating him. To be mentioned by name is, again, weird but of course it’s an incredible honor.

Oliveira won the MOP honors in a close vote, 31-25, over Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the Canadian award over Montreal Alouettes defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi -Berglund, by a vote of 55-1.

Oliveira made sure to thank his offensive line, his coaches and highlighted Canadian veterans like Nic Demski, Pat Neufeld and Jake Thomas for being important role models early in his career. He also mentioned running backs coach Jason Hogan both in his acceptance speech and subsequently in his media availability.

When asked what a younger version of himself would think if he won the Gray Cup with the Blue Bombers and now the MOP and Top Canadian award for a second time, Oliveira smiled.

“It’s insane,” he said. “It’s crazy. It’s crazy. Everyone knows the story — I grew up a Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan, I’m a proud Winnipegger… the fact that I’m here with the two most prestigious awards in this league representing my city, representing the The Winnipeg Blue Bombers organization and all my teammates, it’s crazy, man.

“It’s crazy.”

The main thing now for Oliveira & Co. is to make this week absolutely perfect with a result on Sunday in Game 111 of the Gray Cup against the Toronto Argonauts.

“I would trade them without hesitation to win another championship, to win this Gray Cup on Sunday and to give an opportunity to my teammates who haven’t experienced it yet,” Oliveira said while glancing at the two trophies at his sides. “And to give an opportunity to Coach Hogan (running backs coach Jason Hogan) who was instrumental in my career in making me this very good running back – he hasn’t had the opportunity yet. chance to win it and experience the joys of a Gray Cup victory.

“We have to take care of business on Sunday and win it for these guys.”

The star-studded night didn’t end there for the Blue Bombers either, as veteran linebacker Adam Bighill was named the winner of the 2024 Tom Pate Award, given annually “to a player of exceptional sportsmanship and to ‘one who made a significant contribution to his team’. its community and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association.

Bighill received the Tom Pate Award for all his work on and off the field in Winnipeg. He is president of Making Faces, a non-profit organization that helps children with facial differences, works with Recruit Ready to help develop football players locally and also coaches the game at tackle and flag level for Manitoba Football and Manitoba Minor Football. Association.

Bighill also volunteers his time to several charities and participates in countless local fundraisers. He is the third Blue Bomber in the history of the award to be honored after Glen Scrivener in 1998 and Milt Stegall in 2007.

“I’ve seen a lot of people win this award who are just amazing humans and great people doing great work,” he said. “I always felt weird being nominated for this award because I always thought it was something you should do by getting involved and helping and being part of the community.

“I don’t think you need to get an award to do this and be recognized. So, for me, it’s great to be recognized, especially because of the tradition of the award and the people who have won it before me.

Oliveira rushed for a record 1,353 yards this season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season, and led the CFL in yards from scrimmage, 1,829 yards, including his 476 yards from scrimmage. receiving on a career-high 57 receptions.

He becomes the Blue Bombers’ first double honoree in a season and the third Blue Bombers player to be named MOP in the last four years after Zach Collaros was honored in 2021 and 2022. He is also the ninth player in the history of the franchise to win the MOP. price.

WINNERS OF BLUE BOMBERS’ MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYERS OVER THE YEARS