The Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce celebrated the hard work and dedication of the local business community at its annual awards gala Oct. 28, at the Ponoka Legion.
Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson said local business owners are important as they’re economic drivers as the main tax base for the town, they create employment and are “pillars of the community.”
“I”m so grateful you have chosen this town to be your home,” said Ferguson.
Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson, Ponoka County Deputy Reeve Mark Matejka, and chamber president Sherry Gummow also gave greetings and congratulations to the nominees.
Gummow said a total of 44 nominations were received for the 2023 business awards. She mentioned with the management agreement with the Leduc regional chamber, the Ponoka chamber has access to a team of 16 professionals and even more expertise from its board of directors.
The 2023 business award winners are as follows:
- Small Business of the Year: Makkinga Market.
- Medium Business of the Year: Legacy Ford Ponoka.
- Large Business of the Year: Heartland Feeds.
- New Business of the Year: Brittany Jo & Co Wellness Inc.
- Community/Service Group of the year: Ponoka Youth Centre.
- Legacy Business of the Year: Calanah Builders Ltd.
- Inger Laing Memorial Business Person of the Year: Jamil Rawji of Ponoka Professional Pharmacy.
- Customer Service Person of the Year: Kathy Hosler, Sommer Home Hardware Building Centre.
The horse race event held during the gala raised $1,334 for the legion. The first place finish went to Pony Soprano, owned by Stave Wass with Under Pressure Line Jetting Inc., with a pay out of $1,890.