Canadian Comedy Award winner Brent Butt is ramping up to star in Corner Gas, the first CTV series shot entirely in Saskatchewan.

Principal photography is already underway and will continue through August. The series, directed by David Storey (The Sean Cullen Show) and Henry Sarwer-Foner (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), is shooting in Regina’s SaskCan Production Studios and on location in Rouleau. Writers include Butt, along with Mark Farrell and Paul Mather (both from This Hour Has 22 Minutes).

The 13-part comedy series, set in Dog River, SK, revolves around Brent LeRoy (Butt), owner of the Corner Gas petrol station, and his interactions with the townfolk. Eric Peterson (Trudeau) and Janet Wright (The Perfect Storm) also star. The series will also feature a number of guest spots, from the likes of Kevin McDonald from Kids in the Hall. Viewers can become residents of Dog River themselves in an interactive experience available on a companion website.

Saskatchewan native Butt, also a writer and executive producer on the show, was nominated for a ’98 Gemini Award for his CTV/Comedy Network Comedy Now! special. His performances have also aired on A&E, HBO, CBC and Global.

The production will be receiving a royal visitor in Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, who plans to visit the Regina soundstage on June 19 as part of his tour of the province.

Corner Gas is a Prairie Pants Production, comprised of Regina-based Verite Films and Vancouver’s 335 Productions, a partnership between Butt and Storey. The show’s network premiere is slated for 2004.