Season 1► Premiere: January 22, 2004 — Finale: April 28, 2004 — # of Episodes: 13 Summary: Having moved from Toronto to Dog River, Saskatchewan, Lacey re-opens the Ruby Cafe and tries to fit in with the quirky locals.
Season 1 of Corner Gas featured 13 episodes, premiered on January 22, 2004 and concluded on April 28, 2004. The first season was released on DVD in Canada on October 19, 2004.
Lacey Burrows moves from the bustling metropolis of Toronto, Ontario to the small farming community of Dog River, Saskatchewan when she inherits her aunt's coffee shop, which is connected to Corner Gas, run by Brent Leroy. Lacey also meets Brent's parents, Emma and cantankerous Oscar, police officers Davis and Karen; Wanda, and Hank, the local idiot and Brent's best friend. Lacey's renovations on the coffee shop are met with disapproval from Hank until Brent intervenes.
When a tax man comes to audit Corner Gas, Oscar and Hank plot to humiliate the auditor. Unfortunately for them, Emma's excellent record-keeping throws the whole operation into chaos and Hank learns you shouldn't carry out a humiliation plan after you've been drinking. Meanwhile, Lacey's approach to selling coffee doesn't fly with Davis.
Lacey offers free Pilates classes to the people of Dog River but the town is strangely hostile to the idea. When Brent and Hank wear the same shirt, so Hank comes up with a way of making sure they never steal each other's fashion thunder again. Oscar takes steps to avoid being buried in a cheap looking coffin.
In an effort to impress Lacey, Brent agrees to babysit Wanda's troubled six-year-old, Tanner, and the town takes an unusual interest in the outcome. Lacey comes to Brent's rescue but not for the reasons Brent thinks. Oscar tries not to destroy the gas station in Brent's absence and Hank deals with his own disturbing memory of babysitting Tanner.
A poorly spray-painted "Grad 68" on the Dog River water tower has been an eyesore for years. But when Karen makes it her mission to crack the graffiti cold case, she finds many of the locals united in a conspiracy of silence. Brent throws Dog River into chaos when he changes Corner Gas' bathroom signs. And when Lacey's column is rejected by the Howler, she becomes desperate to be published.
Hank thinks Dog River should put up a big object as a tourist magnet but the town can't decide on what until Helen, Fitzy's grandmother, comes up with an idea with an unfortunate double meaning. Oscar thinks Lacey has a crush on him and she tries to find a way to let him down gently.
When Lacey's ex-fiancee from Toronto comes to visit, the people of Dog River take matters into their own hands to protect Lacey from her past. Emma uses strong-arm tactics to get Oscar to the doctor. Karen gets to know her billy stick and just about everyone gets a tour of the Police station's new interrogation room.
Brent's successful cousin Carl, now working in England, comes back to visit Dog River and everyone seems to love him except for Brent. At the town's talent show, Brent's dislike of Carl is justified. Davis' love of puppetry turns sour after the talent night and Oscar tries to get a refund for his old beer bottles.
When Brent gets a new cell phone, Davis is determined to keep up with him. Lacey tries to join Dog River's Chamber of Commerce and proving she has community spirit, tries to prevent a historic landmarks from being torn down, not realizing there might be a good reason for it. Oscar develops a passion for a claw machine and stuffed toys.
Brent develops a grudge for an out-of-town comedian who performs at a comedy night in Dog River. Hank, on the other hand, is star struck with the guy and arranges to be the M.C. for the night. Unfortunately, Hank gets a little carried away after Lacey gives him a crash course in heckler management. The women's book club expands its reading list when they recruit a man.
Karen and Hank go on a fishing trip together and she learns that he's a different person when he fishes. Brent and Lacey engage each other in a battle of wits with the help of the new roadside sign. Oscar tries to prove that his memory is as good as it ever was, prompting Brent and the whole town to have a little fun at his expense.
The Dog River hockey team, the Riverdogs, find out that their goalie, Brent feels unappreciated and is considering playing for a rival team. With no coach either, Lacey steps up and helps the team play one of their best games ever. Emma pressures Oscar to get rid of his clunker of a car, but Oscar insists that the car's fine and the only clunker is Emma.
On their way to the Grey Cup in Regina, the gang hits a few snags. Emma gets physical with a cashier while shopping with Wanda. Oscar and Hank visit Oscar's crazy old buddy who has a surprise for them. Karen and Davis try to buy tickets from a scalper. Brent realizes there may be more to his relationship with Lacey than he thought.