Oscar and his family built a life in Selkirk after immigrating from Lithuania, starting with a small grocery business that grew through hard work and perseverance. He later became known for his popular hot dog stand and full-service restaurants on Main Street. Oscar and his family left an enduring mark on Selkirk and are fondly remembered by the community.
373 Main Street / 377 Main Street / 409 Main Street
Longtime residents may remember Oscar’s Restaurant as more than just a place to eat. It was a gathering spot, a social hub, and for many, the backdrop to countless memories shared over plates of comfort food. Oscar Cantin’s restaurant was the place to be, known for its mouthwatering barbeque ribs, fried chicken, hot dogs, fried shrimp, and more –– all served with a side of community spirit. But the Cantin family’s story stretches far beyond the walls of the restaurant.
The Cantin’s Selkirk Start
Oscar, his mother Mary, and his brother Harvey, immigrated to Selkirk from Lithuania when Oscar was eight years old. Determined to build a better life, Mary saved $500 and purchased Frank Bannister’s building near Main Street and Manitoba Avenue next to the fire hall. She converted part of the building into a storefront and began selling groceries, with stock delivered by the Weidmann Brother wholesale grocers.
The store operated from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., leaving little room for rest or recreation. The family lived in the back of the shop, sharing a kitchen and a single bedroom. There was no indoor plumbing, they relied on an outdoor toilet, and the kitchen was heated by a woodstove. Young Oscar helped keep the stove burning, first by sawing cordwood himself, and later by hauling it indoors after Carl Barnson was hired to cut it with his power saw.
The store’s refrigerator and meat cooler were located in a basement accessible only by trapdoor –– a basement that flooded every spring. Eventually, an ice cream cooler was installed, though it required frequent repairs from Jack Maloney of Palm Dairies in Winnipeg. As Oscar later recalled, “He’d look at it and fool around and he’d fix it. Jack Maloney could do anything.”
Oscar attended school in both Windsor, Ontario, and Selkirk, studying at Selkirk Central School and Devonshire Collegiate Institute. By 1935, however, the pressure of balancing school, business responsibilities, and earning a living became overwhelming, and his formal education ended in Grade 10. Earlier, while Oscar was in fifth grade, Mary had placed Oscar and his brother Harvey in a Winnipeg Jewish orphanage for six months, fearing she could not adequately care for them while managing the business.
In 1936, Mary sought to expand again. She purchased a streetcar for $50 with plans to use it as a storefront, but council objected to its location. Undeterred, she hired carpenter Lexie Taylor to build Oscar’s Hot Dog Stand in front of the car. This modest stand marked Oscar’s first true step into the hot food business, where he worked evenings and weekends while still attending school.
Oscar Takes a Break to Serve
During the Second World War, Oscar served as a tail gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1945, stationed in England. One moment overseas would stay with him forever. Nearly forced to board a 9 a.m. training flight, Oscar switched places with a classmate and flew at 10:30 instead. The earlier plane crashed, killing all eight crew members. “If he (his classmate) hadn’t gone up, I wouldn’t be here now,” he said.
Back to Selkirk
After returning home, Oscar resumed operating his hot dog stand. Mary later purchased another building at 409 Main Street, relocating the stand and converting it into a coffee shop. The rest of the property housed a jewelry store, with a sewing factory on the top floor. A few years later, Mary sold both buildings, which were replaced by a surplus store and Packer’s Fashion. Between 1952 and 1962, Oscar operated a full-service restaurant rented from the Sawchuks, located across from Devonshire Collegiate at 373 Main Street. The business expanded to include delivery, catering, and dine-in services. Oscar also ran concession stands at community events such as Rolling Mills union picnics, often supported by companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi who supplied signs, coolers, and equipment. Soon after he married Faiga in 1961 he sold his business in Selkirk and moved back to Winnipeg where he worked at his brother’s pharmacy, Cantin Drugs until his retirement.
A Heartbreaking Ending
Tragedy struck in May of 1972, when Oscar’s and neighboring businesses were destroyed in a devastating early-morning fire. RCMP suspected arson played a role. The blaze followed an earlier incident in February of 1963, when officers noticed smoke coming from the restaurant late at night and discovered a pot of chicken burning on the stove. Thanks to their quick response, serious damage was avoided.
Through hard work, resilience, and community ties, Oscar Cantin and his family left an enduring mark on Selkirk–– one still remembered fondly by those who once pulled up a chair at Oscar’s Restaurant.
Oscar’s Restaurant Collection
Click on images to enlarge
Cantin Store and Oscar's Hot Dog Stand, 1954, Stories of Selkirk's Pioneers and their Heritage
Sources
Selkirk Enterprise, 1953, 1956, 1972
Howard, K., Stories of Selkirk’s Pioneers and their Heritage
