By Ian Hamilton, Leader-PostNovember 27, 2009
CALGARY — It's hardly sovereign territory, but there's a little piece of Saskatchewan on the outskirts of Cowtown.
Pazzer's Saskatchewan Pub is a tiny drinking hole in northwest Calgary, its location a secret to at least one cab driver. Even after he gets into the general vicinity of the place and pulls into its parking lot, he drives past the building as if oblivious to its existence.
Pazzer's Saskatchewan Pub is a tiny drinking hole in northwest Calgary, its location a secret to at least one cab driver. Even after he gets into the general vicinity of the place and pulls into its parking lot, he drives past the building as if oblivious to its existence.
A Calgarian dissing Saskatchewan — funny, but he didn't look like Nik Lewis!
The proprietor is Marion Hayes, a 41-year-old product of Glidden who opened the pub nearly six years ago.
"I knew there's a lot of us who relocated to Alberta, so I wanted to have a place where we could meet," Hayes says, "and also a place for Roughriders fans to go hang out."
Ah. That explains the decor.
The proprietor is Marion Hayes, a 41-year-old product of Glidden who opened the pub nearly six years ago.
"I knew there's a lot of us who relocated to Alberta, so I wanted to have a place where we could meet," Hayes says, "and also a place for Roughriders fans to go hang out."
Ah. That explains the decor.
The outdoor barbecue sits under a cover that looks like a Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey. On a window inside is a decal of the Calgary Stampeders' horse logo — with a Gainer sticker riding bareback. That window also features a Pilsner banner that proclaims the bar "2009 Rider Nation Headquarters."
Behind the bar sits a Roughriders lawn gnome, with a Pil bottle taped to him. Above that is one of the special-edition green jerseys that Team Canada is to wear during the 2010 world junior hockey championship in Saskatchewan.
More Roughriders paraphernalia is to go up before the team plays the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup, to be contested just a $10 taxi ride away (unless the cabbie drives right past the place, of course) at McMahon Stadium.
On this night, the waitress is Alisa Larson, a product of Elgin, Man., who has worked at the pub for the past year and a half. She's wearing a Roughriders T-shirt, with the retro 'S' on the chest.
More Roughriders paraphernalia is to go up before the team plays the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup, to be contested just a $10 taxi ride away (unless the cabbie drives right past the place, of course) at McMahon Stadium.
On this night, the waitress is Alisa Larson, a product of Elgin, Man., who has worked at the pub for the past year and a half. She's wearing a Roughriders T-shirt, with the retro 'S' on the chest.
Growing up, she was a fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Doesn't her skin crawl when she's asked by Hayes to wear a Roughriders shirt?
"I got over it pretty quickly," says Larson, who moved to Calgary seven years ago. "Working here, it's much more fun to be a Riders fan than a Bombers fan.
"I do like to see them do well," she adds. "I don't think I'd ever go to Saskatchewan just to watch them play — I'm not that dedicated — but I do cheer for them now. It's more fun. When you get Marion and all the other girls in here in their Riders stuff, it's wild."
Oh yeah? How wild?
"A guy forgot his name for five days the last time Saskatchewan won the Grey Cup," pipes up Curt Clarke, a regular who was at the pub for the Roughriders' victory in the 2007 Grey Cup.
The place features just five booths, four tables, a few bar stools and some standing room, so it's not like the entire Calgary branch of the Rider Nation can fit. Even so, the joint can be jumpin'.
"Every Riders game day, all the Riders fans seem to find this place," Larson says. "I haven't seen any watermelons, though. I think I might see a few Sunday. I might even have to wear one."
Like, as a condition of employment?
The place features just five booths, four tables, a few bar stools and some standing room, so it's not like the entire Calgary branch of the Rider Nation can fit. Even so, the joint can be jumpin'.
"Every Riders game day, all the Riders fans seem to find this place," Larson says. "I haven't seen any watermelons, though. I think I might see a few Sunday. I might even have to wear one."
Like, as a condition of employment?
"No, it'd be voluntary," she replies. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing!"
The pub isn't just for Roughriders fans. One wall features an autographed picture of former St. Louis Blues star Bernie Federko (the pride of Foam Lake) and a collection of hockey cards marking the NHL career of Dave Manson (who hails from Prince Albert).
Another wall bears a framed Blues jersey worn by Greg Paslawski (a product of Kindersley), a picture of a minor hockey team from Eatonia circa 1970 or so, and a jersey worn during a WHL all-star game by former Moose Jaw Warriors captain Kent Hayes — who just happens to be Marion's husband.
And, just to further remind the Saskatchewan ex-pats of home, licence plates from years gone by and a couple of tractor seats are to be hung this week.
And, just to further remind the Saskatchewan ex-pats of home, licence plates from years gone by and a couple of tractor seats are to be hung this week.
"A lot of customers bring in stuff," says Marion Hayes, whose menu features such items as Weyburn wings, the Biggar burger and the Happy Farmer and Angry Farmer wraps. "Anything you can bring in from the farm, we have it."
On a wall by the bar is a map of Saskatchewan, with pins stuck in it to mark the hometowns of folks who have come in. Hayes says it's the second version of the map; the first got so full, the pins started falling out.
"This place isn't just supposed to be about Rider Pride," she says. "It's for people to be proud of Saskatchewan."
On a wall by the bar is a map of Saskatchewan, with pins stuck in it to mark the hometowns of folks who have come in. Hayes says it's the second version of the map; the first got so full, the pins started falling out.
"This place isn't just supposed to be about Rider Pride," she says. "It's for people to be proud of Saskatchewan."
1 comment:
The OWNER of this establishment, instead of putting up "Reserved Signs" around the bar, thinks it is ok to ask paying customers to MOVE in favour of her "Regular Customers" and THEY being the regulars think they have the right to just EXPECT that everyone knows that is THEIR seat.
The bar has Wifi but only has a plug in available at the bar where these regular customers seem to like to sit. No warning. No reserved signs. You are just mistreated if you are sitting in these "Regular Customers Spots".
Very Unprofessional. The regulars seem to want to be BULLIES about it too, which the Manager allows.
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