A Roughrider fan always pays his debts.

But in the case of Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, it took a few weeks to muster up the courage.

On Sept. 12, the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22-9.

In a tradition repeated by many Canadian mayors when teams from two rival cities compete against each other, Mayor Fougere and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman bet on the game.

We're going to raise it, bring it down, and possibly burn it. - Regina Mayor Michael Fougere

The stakes were high in terms of pride: the losing mayor had to fly the other team's flag at city hall.

On Friday, Fougere finally honoured the bet.

Proof that Mayor Fougere honoured his bet. (CBC)

"I keep my commitments," Fougere said. But he wasn't willing to soak in his loss for long. "This will be the shortest flag raising in history. We're going to raise it, bring it down, and possibly burn it."

Fougere said he and Mayor Bowman had a great time at the game in Winnipeg, adding: "They have to win one game sometime. So it may as well have been that one. They never win the Labour Day Classic."

The Riders have won 11-straight Labour Day games against Winnipeg. The Banjo Bowl, however, has been split 6-6 between the two teams since it was given the name by Winnipeg kicker Troy Westwood in 2003.

Total time the Bombers flag spent flying in front of city hall: About 60 seconds.

As it flapped in the wind, one reporter asked, "How does it feel?"

"Odd," Fougere answered. "Just wrong. It feels wrong."