The Stagecoach Room at the Ponoka Stampede grounds was packed with residents on the evening Saturday, Jan. 18, including the almost full line-up of Ponoka Town Council, for Ponoka Minor Hockey Association’s annual fundraiser
As opposed to events in the previous years, the association this time invited a widely popular duo, two pianists from Calgary’s Aussie Rules jazz bar who play on request anything from classical to jazz.
There were also lots of items for both silent and live auction that went on through the night.
Julie Feragen, the organizer of this year’s fundraiser, said this year they wanted the change the tune a little bit and that the change appeared to be well received.
The audience stayed engaged well into the night and Jamie and Bob, the dueling pianists from Calgary, played until midnight.
Feragen said the most attractive live auction items were a gun case donated by Cervus Equipment and Bobby Orr’s autographed picture donated by Sirrs LLP. They went for a pretty good price for sure,” she said, but it was not clear how much exactly the two items fetched.
As for the amount of money raised through the evening, “We outdid ourselves for sure and I think we went over what we expected,” Feragen said, but could not give an exact figure saying that treasurer of the association would be better placed to give a number after paying the bills.
The treasurer could not be reached before press time.
Feragen said they were grateful to the community for supporting the association and “helping out”.