A long-standing tradition that died down during the height of the pandemic is being resurrected this week in Shaunavon. 

The grill fires up at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Fire Hall, for the annual Hot Dog Day. 

Shaunavon District Fire and Rescue Chief, Merrick Goldstein, said the fundraiser is all by donation.  

“We are resurrecting Hot Dog Day, it kind of died during the pandemic,” he said. “If you've got 25 cents in your pocket, if you've got a $20 in your pocket, come on down and have as many hot dogs as you want, visit with the guys, come check out the equipment.” 

This year, the Canalta Hotel in Shaunavon is sponsoring all of the buns and condiments, helping out the crew immensely. 

While Friday will be the first in a couple of years, Goldstein said the fundraiser has been a tradition for as long as he can remember and brings the community together.  

“Back in the day they used to put it on, and it used to be a competition between Shaunavon and Swift Current,” he laughed. “Just seeing how much money they could raise. And I don't know that Swift Current made a whole lot more than Shaunavon.” 

Some years the event would reel in upwards of $2500 and often going through hundreds of hotdogs. 

“We’ve got a new fire hall in the works here right now and a few add-ons that we want to raise money for,” he added. "We're talking about doing a dry sauna and stuff like that, geared towards cancer prevention."