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Olympic Speed Skater Maddison Pearman (rdnewsNOW file photo)
Local dress code: white and red

Town of Ponoka and residents cheer on local Olympic athlete Maddison Pearman Feb. 4

Feb 4, 2022 | 10:28 AM

The Town of Ponoka is encouraging the community to join in celebrating one of Ponoka’s own, Maddison Pearman, as she gets ready to compete at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Pearman will represent Canada in four Olympic speed skating events, including the 500 metres, 1,000 metres, 1,500 metres and the mass start race. Her first event is happening on Monday, Feb. 7.

The town is working in conjunction with a group of local community supporters to cheer Pearman on during the 2022 Olympics and is inviting town residents to join.

Residents can show support for Pearman by wearing red and white this Friday, Feb. 4. The Town has also purchased 100 #PearmantoBeijing window decals, which will be available for free to local citizens.

The window decals can be picked up, beginning on Friday, Feb. 4, at the Arena Complex (4410 54 Street), the Ponoka Aquaplex (5315 46 Avenue; or the Town Office at the Ponoka Civic Centre (#200, 5604 50 Street).

The window decals were purchased by the Town from a group of community supporters that is selling the decals to help cover Pearman’s expenses during her Olympic journey. For more information, the group can be contacted by phoning Sharon at 403-704-3117.

“On behalf of the Town of Ponoka, we would like to congratulate Pearman on this monumental achievement of making Canada’s Speeding Skating Olympic team. She is an amazing ambassador for our community and we look forward to cheering on Pearman in her Olympic journey,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.

Born and raised in Ponoka, Pearman grew up speed skating, starting at the age of five. Pearman comes from a family of skaters and her father is also a speed skating official (starter).

Pearman graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Kinesiology and regularly trains and works part-time at the Calgary Olympic Oval.

For more information on the athlete, visit Pearman’s Olympic profile.

Pearman’s Olympic Event Schedule

Citizens can cheer on and watch Pearman compete in the following events, which will be streamed on CBC Sports (MST) on:

  • Monday, February 7 at 1:30 a.m.: Speed Skating Women’s 1500 metres
  • Sunday, February 13 at 6 a.m.: Speed Skating Women’s 500 metres
  • Thursday, February 17 at 1:30 a.m.: Speed Skating Women’s 1000 metres final
  • Saturday, February 19 at 12 a.m.: Speed Skating Mass Start

For a complete streaming schedule, visit CBC’s Beijing 2022 website.