For those of us who were lucky enough to grow up in and around Ponoka we will always enjoy looking back on our favourite memories, and for yours truly it had to be heading in the 1960s. I guess it was at that time of my life when I settled down a little, got married, took on my first permanent job at the Ponoka Herald newspaper, always loved to cheer on our local sports teams and events, and watched as our friendly little town was booming on all fronts of urban and rural growth and successes. Here are some of the milestones and highlights of that great era:
*The Provincial Mental Hospital (PMH) at Ponoka proudly celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1961, and over that hectic period of time had become one of the top psychiatric treatment and training facilities in North America. Admissions at the facility would reach an all time high of 1428 patients in 1965, with ongoing new programs and treatments that would now include: alcoholism, assistance for patients 20 years of age and under, part time out-patient clinics and employment opportunities, increased staff training and new methods and approaches to mental illness, which all resulted in a much higher discharge rate by 1969. Unfortunately the long-standing hospital farm was phased out in 1962, but new nationwide treatment methods and outlooks would result in many exciting changes in the national programs, which would indicate new facilities and beneficial changes for the PMH long into the future. Over the past half century from 1911 to 1961, the town and the hospital have grown and developed together, the communication and co-operation has always been close and friendly, with the hundreds of patients, staff and students always being welcomed into the community.
*During the 1960s, Ponoka’s 50th Avenue became some sort of a ‘Wall Street’, which featured four chartered banks, the provincial Treasury Branch and no less than five insurance offices to serve customers. The rest of the town also grew very quickly in all directions, which included many new businesses and homes as well as great family recreational and social facilities. Rumours from the Alberta Government have also hinted that many changes are in the works to encourage Highway Commercial development as well as the planning of new subdivisions into expanding towns and Counties.
*The Ponoka Town Police Force may have been looked upon a little as ‘the Grinch who stole Christmas’ early in 1961 after handing out a record 321 parking tickets in December, but also were kind enough to warn and inform local businesses that 243 doors were found left unlocked during their nightly patrol beats in 1960. Meanwhile it is always busy around the Town Council table as they continued to work on the rough plans for the new town hall, announced that a record breaking number of 62 new residences were built in the community in 1960 and received word from the government that a new post office and federal building are in the plans for Ponoka over the next three years.
*The County of Ponoka has asked Alberta Highways Minister Gordon Taylor to act on the proposed plans to complete the hard surfacing of Highway #53 from Ponoka to Rimbey by 1961. With the assistance of the County of Ponoka and the provincial government, the development of the pristine Ponoka Fish and Game Lake Pofianga Recreation Area has been completed just north-west of town.
*The January 26, 1961 edition of the Ponoka Herald carried a report from very reliable sources that 1961 could be one of the best years that the town and county have enjoyed in history, especially in the fields of oil and gas. Discussion is also now underway for the construction of a new $20,000,000 Petro Chemical Plant in the Home Glen area.
*Big news. …the prize money for the June 30/July 1st 1961 Ponoka Stampede will be $6,425, the highest of any two day rodeo in Canada, and to add to the excitement, an extra out-rider will be added to each team in the chuckwagon racing event. The Ponoka Lions’ Club have announced a new ‘Play-at-Home’ Bingo, with proceeds going to our busy minor hockey programs in the community. On March 8, 1961 the Calgary Power switch will be turned on to serve over 140 new modern homes on the Samson Band Indian Reserve at Hobbema.
Whatever the case, the future certainly looks great for everyone in our town and county.