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Ponoka Days at 2019 Canada Winter Games

Feb 15, 2019 | 9:05 AM

As co-sponsors of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, the Town of Ponoka is partnering with the Ponoka Stampede Association to host ‘Ponoka Days’ at the Winter Games on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 in Red Deer.

“Ponoka Days will feature eye-catching displays and fun activities that will showcase our community’s western heritage and promote the many advantages that Ponoka offers to visitors, residents and businesses that locate here,” says Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett.

The Ponoka Days display will include a Cowboy Camp that features rodeo queen Miss Ponoka Stampede 2018 Alicia Erickson, a real stagecoach that visitors can climb into, a pony corral, a bonfire where guests can warm their hands, and Ponoka cowboys who will offer some hands-on roping and branding demonstrations.

“It promises to be a great event. It’s one of the many valuable tourism and economic development opportunities we receive as co-sponsors of the Winter Games,” says Bonnett. “Ponoka Days gives us the opportunity to showcase our community to a national audience at the Winter Games, which is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors from the across the country and the province, as well as hundreds of media representatives covering the games, and thousands of athletes, coaches and managers.”

Ponoka residents are encouraged to attend Ponoka Days and join in on the fun! The Ponoka Days display will be part of the 52 Degrees North Music and Cultural Festival located in downtown Red Deer at 5205-48 Ave. during the Winter Games. The Festival is a free event that includes an entertainment stage where performers such as Gord Bamford will perform on Feb. 22 at 9 p.m.

The Ponoka Days display will be open from 4 – 8 p.m. on Feb. 22 and from 2 – 8 p.m. on Feb. 23. Ponoka Days is being coordinated by community volunteers who sit on a joint steering committee established by the Town and Stampede. That committee includes representatives from the Ponoka Stampede Association, the Town of Ponoka Economic Development Board, the Town’s Recreation Advisory Committee, Town Council, the Kinette Club of Ponoka and Town of Ponoka staff.

‘The Ponoka Stampede is proud to partner with the Town of Ponoka as joint sponsors of the 2019 Canada Winter Games,” says Ponoka Stampede Association President Blair Vold. “We’re excited by the many tourism and economic development benefits this joint sponsorship offers to the local community. It’s a way for us to give back to the communi6ty for its support of the Stampede over the years,” says Vold.

As a co-sponsor of the Games, Ponoka received 90 trees donated by a Friends of the Games Sponsor, Parkland Nursery and Landscape Services Ltd. The oak trees, poplar trees and golden ninebark shrubs were planted in October 2018 throughout Ponoka near the Siding 14 Crossing bridge, by the electronic Town sign at Highway 53 and 2A, and in various parks and gathering areas in the community. 

The joint sponsorship also brought Olympic speed skating champion Catriona Le May Doan to Ponoka last summer as the Ponoka Stampede Parade Marshal.

(Town of Ponoka)