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Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back, girlfriend behind dog rescue TV show

Coming soon to a TV near you: Brady Oliveira, Alex Blumberg, and a whole lot of dogs. The Blue Bombers running back and his girlfriend have started filming a new show for CBC that's scheduled to air next spring called Must Love Dogs. Viewers will see the Winnipeg couple hit the road on dog rescue missions across Manitoba as they try to save as many four-legged friends as possible before winter hits. Supplied Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (right) and his girlfriend, Alex Blumberg. Blumberg says Must Love Dogs 'shows that regular people can do extraordinary things and make the world a better place.' Supplied Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (right) and his girlfriend, Alex Blumberg. Blumberg says Must Love Dogs 'shows that regular people can do extraordinary things and make the world a better place.' Season 1 will feature 10 episodes, lasting 30 minutes each. 'It's very exciting. I think Alex and I wanted this to happen for one reason only, and that is to shine a spotlight on an issue and cause that's near and dear to our hearts, which is obviously dogs and animal rescue,' Oliveira told the Free Press this week. Blumberg added: 'It will spotlight the issues that we do have in Manitoba that a lot of people probably have no idea about… It's not just you see a cute puppy and it's up for adoption, there's so much more that goes into it. We're just really excited to share that story and have it be in our hometown.' The canines are the focus, but cameras will also roll on Oliveira's life as a Blue Bomber. Filming began before training camp and will continue throughout the 2025 season, going behind the scenes on the highs and lows of his gridiron career. 'Obviously, everyone sees the results on game day when we're under the lights, and that's all good and everything, but people don't see everything that goes into being a pro athlete and playing at a high level,' said Oliveira, the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player and a two-time Most Outstanding Canadian. 'It's going to bring a lot of eyes and a lot of great recognition and, hopefully, more viewership to the CFL because I want this league to continue to grow. I think this show is going to blow up, not just here in Canada, but internationally and in the U.S. This is going to be amazing for everyone.' 'Alex and I wanted this to happen for one reason only, and that is to shine a spotlight on an issue and cause that's near and dear to our hearts'–Brady Oliveira How does Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea feel about pulling back the curtain for a production crew? 'I don't think he's too fond of cameras in general. But we have had a conversation about this,' said Oliveira. 'He's excited for me, and if it's something that you're very passionate about, he's on board. He understands that this isn't just about Alex and I, this is about a greater good, a greater cause.' Supplied Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (right) and his girlfriend, Alex Blumberg. Oliveira says the show shines 'a spotlight on an issue and cause that's near and dear to our hearts, which is obviously dogs and animal rescue.' Supplied Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (right) and his girlfriend, Alex Blumberg. Oliveira says the show shines 'a spotlight on an issue and cause that's near and dear to our hearts, which is obviously dogs and animal rescue.' After Oliveira and Blumberg met each other through their work with K9 Advocacy Manitoba, the couple started travelling in the winter months to places like Mexico and Bali, Indonesia, where they filmed a video miniseries for The Dodo — a brand that shares animal-related stories to millions of online followers. Making the jump to television was the goal, and it turns out a chance encounter in a hotel lobby in Mexico got the ball rolling. Oliveira was on his way to take out a rescue pup for a walk when producers John Hall and Kayvon Saremi, who were in Cabo San Lucas at the time working on a project for Netflix, struck up a conversation. 'When I shared the work that we do, it kind of sparked something in their heads where they were like, 'This sounds like a TV show,'' said Oliveira. 'They've been grinding the last two years to put something together. We created a pilot trailer and a pitch deck, and then they've been doing their thing, trying to sell it to different networks and here we are.' 'I think meeting them was definitely the reason this all transpired,' said Blumberg, a realtor for Monopoly Realty. 'For a few years, they fought for us, and they believed in what we were doing and now it's coming to fruition and we're super fortunate for the group that they put together to be a part of this.' The show is produced by Omnifilm Entertainment, a content company based out of Vancouver. The series will also recognize local organizations such as K9 Advocacy, Winnipeg Pet Rescue and Manitoba Animal Alliance, as well as independent rescuers like Jasmine Colucci and Ryan Klassen. 'It just shows that regular people can do extraordinary things and make the world a better place.'–Alex Blumberg The rescue adventures in the debut season all take place in Indigenous communities across the province. 'You're going to see incredible Indigenous people in these communities that are our contacts when we go to these communities,' said Oliveira. 'They're the ones that are doing the work every single day when we're not there… You're going to see many amazing individuals that are just trying to help their community in a positive way.' Above everything else, Oliveira and Blumberg hope the show inspires others to get out and help. 'It doesn't really matter how busy life is, you can always make time for something you're passionate about,' said Blumberg. 'It just shows that regular people can do extraordinary things and make the world a better place.' On hiatus The Free Press sports editor keeps you up to date on all that's happening on the ice, the field, the court, and places in between. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.