Lacey Burrows (Gabrielle Miller), a big-city girl from Toronto, moves into the small community of Dog River to run her late aunt's coffee shop. When she makes changes to the shop, the perpetually unemployed Hank Yarbo (Fred Ewanuick) begins to protest. Next door at Corner Gas, station manager Brent Leroy (Brent Butt) starts a video rental service at his gas station, much to the disapproval of his father, Oscar (Eric Peterson), who previously ran the station. Meanwhile, police officers Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal) and Karen Pelly (Tara Spencer-Nairn) disagree on their patrol car numbers.

When a tax man comes to audit the Corner Gas business records, Brent's dad Oscar and friend Hank immediately plot revenge by devising a foolproof plan to humiliate the auditor. Unfortunately for Hank and Oscar, Emma's excellent record-keeping throws the whole clockwork operation into chaos and Hank learns not to carry out humiliation plans after drinking. Meanwhile, Lacey's big-city approach to selling coffee does not fly with the locals.^[2]

Lacey offers "free" Pilates classes to the people of Dog River but they're strangely hostile to the idea. Then Brent and Hank's fashion worlds collide: Dog River's not big enough for two sharp-dressed men, so Hank devises a way to ensure they never steal each other's fashion thunder again. Meanwhile, Brent's dad Oscar takes steps to avoid being buried in a cheap-looking coffin.^[3]

A poorly spray-painted "Grad 68" on the Dog River water tower has been an eyesore for years. But when rookie cop Karen makes it her mission to crack the graffiti cold case, she finds many of the locals united in a mysterious conspiracy of silence. Meanwhile, Brent throws Dog River into chaos when he tries to end the confusion over the gas station's new bathroom signs; and when the town newspaper rejects Lacey's column she becomes desperate to be published, especially after hearing the paper usually takes anyone.^[5]

When Lacey's ex-fiance from Toronto visits, the people of Dog River take matters into their own hands to protect Lacey from her past. Unfortunately the town's crack system for tracking intruders has a few glitches. Meanwhile Emma uses strong-arm tactics to get her husband to the doctor. The town's policewoman, Karen, gets to know her billy stick, and just about everyone gets a tour of the police station's new interrogation room.^[8]

Brent's successful cousin Carl, now working in England, comes back to Dog River and everyone seems to love him except for Brent. After a while, even Brent fears his loathing of Carl might be misplaced. Thankfully at the town's talent show, Brent's fears of misplaced dislike are put to rest when Carl proves himself less than perfect. Meanwhile Davis' love of puppetry turns sour after the talent night, and Oscar finally figures out a way to make money from his old beer bottles.^[5]

Brent develops a grudge for an out-of-town comedian who performs at a comedy night in Dog River, but Hank, starstruck with the guy, arranges to be the emcee for the night. Unfortunately Hank gets carried away after Lacey gives him a crash course in heckler management. Meanwhile, Dog River's women's book club expands its reading list when they recruit a man. ^[11][12]

To drum up business, Brent gets a sign to put up catchy slogans outside the gas station and coffee shop, but Lacey is not crazy about his pithy catchphrases, like "eat at the Ruby and get gas", or "come for the oil change, stay for the grease". Meanwhile Brent and Emma worry about Oscar's memory after Oscar keeps misplacing his can of Alphagetti. Finally, Karen is forced to go on a fishing trip alone with Hank when Davis claims to have to see an "aroma-therapist", which turns the town on end after seeing the outcome on the sign outside the station.^[13]

As they kick off their season against a rival team from Stonewood, the local Dog River hockey team finds itself at a crossroads. Brent is a great goalie and is being taken for granted by his teammates, so when an offer from the rival team comes his way, he has to seriously consider his options. Meanwhile the other players are having trouble scoring and might need to take some advice from an unlikely hockey expert. Then team superfan Emma learns the hard way never to mix cars, husband, and hammer on game night.^[15]

Brent is shocked to find out his parents never married, until an unlikely wedding planner talks Oscar and Emma into a splashy nuptial ceremony. Meanwhile, Hank disputes Brent’s ownership of a Darryl Sittler rookie card he claims he won when they were kids; and Lacey tackles helping Oscar with an embarrassing problem he's not aware he has.^[17]

Brent enters into the final stage of manhood by buying a big-screen television. He knows this sort of thing can attract a lot of envy, so he’s surprised to find he’s suddenly the object of pity among his friends. Lacey makes the mistake of buying some handmade jewelry from Wanda, realizing you can put a price on friendship; Oscar and Emma engage in a battle of petty revenge after Oscar criticizes Emma for never putting the lid back on the sugar bowl.

At bingo night, Wanda steps in after the regular bingo caller takes a tumble. She’s a hit with everyone except Emma who takes drastic steps to restore her winning streak. Meanwhile, Lacey learns that her good old-fashioned home cooking cannot compete with the chemically-preserved "road cookies" Brent sells at Corner Gas; and Karen is temporarily suspended from the police force and spends her days hanging out with Brent, leaving Hank to wonder what his role is.

The Leroy family has long been a proud and ineffective curling dynasty but this year a schism in the ranks has Brent and Oscar skipping different rinks. Then when a local senior’s hip replacement creates a shortage of female curlers, Lacey finds herself the hottest rookie prospect in the league. Meanwhile Karen is put in charge of safeguarding the famed curling trophy — the Clavet Cup — which turns out to be harder than she thought.

Hank is asked to be Dog River’s goodwill ambassador and show an American tourist around, but he's not the best choice and Brent is called in. A new automated teller machine at the liquor store draws a loyal following, (but not for the machine or insurance) leaving Lacey to wonder where all her customers have gone. Emma goes power-crazy after being nominated to be "leader of the ATM people". Attempting to learn French, Karen tries to immerse herself in Dog River's rich but non-existent francophone community.

Lacey gets the job of convincing a good-looking young doctor to set up shop in town, but the doctor turns out to be a small-town hick. Meanwhile, Hank sets off a chain reaction of house-swapping when he needs a place to crash while his house is getting fixed; and Brent thinks he's stuck with a counterfeit $100 bill.

Brent, Hank, and Wanda resurrect their old high-school rock band Thunderface. The local bar owner is thrilled but not for the reasons the band thinks. Meanwhile Davis takes an unusual interest in Oscar’s claim that a famous country/western singer stole his song. And despite Emma's efforts to stop her, civic-minded Lacey uncovers the dark secret behind Dog River’s name. This has been claimed to be Brent Butt's favorite episode.

A big airshow is on nearby and the people of Dog River are very excited. But Lacey’s breach of airshow protocol has many in town upset. Thankfully with the help of the Snowbirds, Lacey almost manages to make things right. Meanwhile, business at Brent’s gas station hits an unexpected snag while Hank’s new corn stand scheme exceeds all expectations. And after a rash of vandalism, Karen and Davis take to the streets on bikes to do some face-to-face community policing, although Karen is oddly reluctant.

Brent starts behaving differently when Wanda wears a skirt to work. Feeling empowered, she tests the limits of her feminine charm, only to find out Brent’s new attitude toward her may not be motivated by her clothes. Meanwhile Oscar and Hank invest imaginary money in the stock market and try not to lose their imaginary shirts; Emma comes to the rescue when Lacey’s dishwasher breaks down.

When Emma gives Brent flak over his coffee drinking, he vows to quit cold turkey if she quits knitting. As Brent struggles in a caffeine-free world, Emma takes up a new pastime with Oscar to counter her knitting-needle withdrawal, but the cure may be worse than the addiction. Meanwhile, Davis and Karen start a ride-along program that becomes a little too popular; and Hank is at the mercy of his new electronic organizer.

When a dog finds Hank’s sunglasses, he’s sure that it’s TV’s Littlest Hobo, the fictional dog whose mission it was to help those in trouble. Hank tries to prove his theory, but discovers that he’s not smart enough to outsmart the smartest of dogs. Meanwhile, Brent waffles on the designs for the new travel mugs for Corner Gas and The Ruby; and Davis and Karen’s status in Dog River is threatened when two firefighters named David and Carol arrive.

Lacey and Wanda start a running group to train for a 10k fun run, but when Brent joins he shows the other members how to run, race, and relax all at once: it might not be much exercise, but it has Lacey eating dust in the big race. Meanwhile, Hank takes his new crossing-guard job too seriously; and everyone in town treats Oscar differently when he scams handicap plates for his car.

Brent and Hank stumble across their old treehouse, but the new kids who have taken it over intimidate them into action: they wage war to reclaim their fort, forgetting that acting like a child gets you treated like one. Meanwhile, Wanda escapes Davis’ police custody with surprising ease; Lacey sucks at Kung-Fu; and Oscar’s in denial when an old friend shows up with lust in her eyes.

When people make fun of Brent’s old-fashioned camera, he decides to go digital. But going high-tech earns him little respect, especially when he forgets to read his new camera's instruction manual. Meanwhile, everyone teams up for a trivia showdown at the hotel; and Oscar’s hatred of lawn ornaments comes back to haunt him when a ceramic gnome takes on a life of its own.

Lacey starts a coffee-shop newsletter and invites Brent to draw the cartoons. Brent agrees, but Davis and Karen see his cartoons as personal attacks, and his follow-up cartoon only worsens things. Meanwhile, Hank comes up with a way for Lacey to rake in more tips at the Ruby, but he bolts to the competition when he’s cut out of the profits; and Oscar’s childhood dream of being a paperboy becomes Emma's nightmare.

Brent must cope with Emma's plans for a traditional Christmas. Lacey decides to head home to Toronto but the weather forces her to take a scenic route that won't get her there. Meanwhile, the holiday spirit moves Hank to organize a gift drive for a needy family who seem oddly unappreciative; and Wanda struggles to get her hands on the season’s hottest toy...again and again and again.

Lacey’s friend Connie comes to Dog River and everyone’s surprised by how rude she is. Lacey thinks the town always treats outsiders with suspicion, so Hank sets out to prove it. Meanwhile, Wanda and Brent try to keep a Corner Gas rewards-card program from spiraling out of control; and Davis thinks Karen would make a bad undercover cop despite being a bad one himself.

Brent and Lacey battle for the title of who can best keep a secret with Karen stuck in the crossfire. Wanda is angry and perplexed when she is turned down for a credit card, after a company rats on her, especially when she finds out Hank was approved for the same card. Tired of Davis bothering her with Hardy Boys books, Karen gives them to Oscar and has him give them back only if he whips Davis into physical peak; at least according to the standards of the Canada Fitness Award Program.

Brent accepts the offer of a haircut from Karen, only to find out that Emma is territorial about who he receives them from. Hank promises to stain Lacey’s deck but does not, forcing Lacey to get Wanda’s help to settle it. And Davis is after Oscar to replace his muffler, which is as loud as it is old.

When a morning-radio DJ starts impersonating Brent on his show, Brent tries to prove to the people of Dog River – and especially Oscar — that it’s not actually him. Lacey’s upset when her new delivery service proves more popular than she’d like. And Davis and Karen find out that their work-to-rule campaign is a lot more work than they thought.

Hank and Brent’s plan to tear down a local barn is complicated when Oscar insists on getting involved. Davis, determined to become the local paper’s "Newsmaker of the Year," hires Wanda to take photos of him on the job. And Lacey is frustrated at Emma for having to continually re-manicure her nails.

Trying to raise money for charity, Karen locks Davis in the jail cell and will not let him out until she has raised a thousand dollars – a challenge made no less difficult when Hank insists on keeping Davis company. Brent resists Lacey’s attempt to "spruce up" Corner Gas, and Wanda will not let a lack of know-how interfere with her attempt to fix Oscar and Emma’s toilet.

Brent regrets convincing Hank to start an online blog when he realizes that he’s actually going to have to read it. And when Lacey gets bummed out over a friend’s recent success, the food at the Ruby goes downhill. To take Lacey’s mind off it, Emma invites her to a BBQ but things turn ugly when Lacey takes on Oscar on in a friendly game of horseshoes. Meanwhile, Wanda gives Davis a hand with his taxes with expensive results.

Hank has an idea to increase tourism to Dog River which causes consequences nobody could have foreseen. Oscar also has an idea but is afraid to bring it forward for fear of being labeled a crazy old man. The newfound popularity of Dog River causes a business boom at Corner Gas and the Ruby as well as Wanda getting a weekly guest spot on popular Canadian news program. Davis tries to work as Fitzy’s personal body guard during the transition while Karen thinks loyal, honest police work is best.

When someone complains that Dog River does not have enough local programming, ideas abound for the next great cable show and Brent is selected to choose which idea will be produced, causing everyone to kiss up to him. Lacey, Emma, and Wanda encounter some creative differences in their show planning, while Hank becomes the subject of Karen and Davis’ new cop program.

Hank tries to freak out the people of Dog River but the result of his prank is a crop circle he did not create. Davis is intrigued by this possible visit by aliens but only Karen knows the whole story. The Leroy home gets a paint job driving Oscar out of the house and causing Emma to question her sanity. An accidental wardrobe change by Brent piques Lacey’s interest, and Wanda takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for Lacey.

Brent meets a family member Oscar and Emma never told him about. Wanda tries to prove her intelligence by showcasing her math skills, but not without Karen’s help. Davis’ taste buds are enticed by changes to the Ruby’s menu. *This Episode was accidentally broadcast by The Comedy Network on December 15, 2007, a full month before it was supposed to first air on CTV.

Hank bribes Brent and Davis into taking him to see the latest blockbuster — RaptorMan 2; Emma invites Lacey to join a women’s club although Lacey feels she won't fit in; Oscar finally gets a sidewalk put in front of his house and Karen is forced to protect it.

Oscar’s new get-rich-quick scheme seems to be flawless...until Emma foils it. Davis starts borrowing Brent’s car without telling him why he’s taking it. Lacey wins Hank’s handyman services at a silent auction, but ends up having to do twice the amount of work because of it.

It's half an hour before midnight when Brent officially turns 40. To help celebrate, Wanda has planned an elaborate fireworks display that goes dangerously wrong when Oscar and Davis help out. Karen tries to keep the peace as Lacey and Emma duel over who should be baking Brent's cake. And Brent's plans for a special night go awry when he discovers that a bottle of vintage scotch he was saving for just this occasion has gone missing, thanks to Hank.

Hank’s mockery of Brent’s air conditioner temperature lands him in hot water at Corner Gas. Karen and Davis win a meat draw but trouble starts when they have nowhere to store it and trust Oscar and Emma with their stash. Lacey and Wanda unleash their maternal instincts on an unwanted pet left at the Ruby.

Brent has trouble proving to Lacey and Hank that he's a true Roughriders fan. Davis enlightens Wanda to the unwritten rules of mix-CDs, while Karen volunteers to read books at the seniors' home and has some unlikely fans in Oscar and Emma.

When Brent decides to learn the guitar, his instructor makes him realize just how uncool he is, and leads Oscar into the path of his childhood nemesis. Wanda takes on a secret identity in a new Howler column much to the suspicion of Lacey and inconvenience of Davis. Hank tries to prove he's stronger than Emma after taking Karen's workout advice.

Brent and Hank are on the outs after a trip to see their favourite comic book writer goes awry. Lacey's generous donations to the thrift store make the perfect gifts for Karen to celebrate her recent promotion. Oscar and Emma's new home alarm system causes more emergencies than Davis bargained for.

When it is announced that Dog River Days has been cancelled, Lacey enlists the help of Davis and Hank to save them. Emma asks Oscar to get rid of the stray cats in her garden, but the task proves more difficult than Oscar thought, and gives Karen a new reputation. Brent fakes an injury in Corner Gas to teach Wanda a lesson.

Emma keeps a watchful eye on the citizens of Dog River to ensure the town reigns supreme over Wullerton in "Turn Off Your TV Week". Lacey and Oscar find a profitable way to break the rules and Karen and Davis hit the radio airwaves to help everyone cope. Brent finds a creative way to get through a week of no TV with the help of Hank and Wanda.

Lacey and Davis are on the hunt after two of the letters in the "CAFE" sign are blown off the roof during a bad windstorm. Wanda's demands for more rights at Corner Gas lead to unexpected opportunities for Hank and more headaches for Brent. Meanwhile, Oscar worries about Emma after Karen's pick in a jam contest.