The Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a community event on Aug. 22, 'Ponoka Connects.'
The event, which will be held at the Ponoka Arena Complex from 3 to 7 p.m., will include registration for community organizations, a job fair, and a free barbecue.
"I believe it's the first time the chamber has partnered with the town to do this ... and also include a job fair component," said special projects coordinator Becky Soch with the Ponoka chamber.
"We've had a great relationship with the Town of Ponoka and through conversations and through meetings, we discussed upcoming events the town was hosting and we agreed this would be a great partnership."
Residents can come on down during the event to register their kids for local sports teams and other community organizations, or check out regional job opportunities. There will also be free resources available for job seekers, such as help updating resumes, said Soch.
The chamber will also have a booth at the fair, to answer questions about how to become a member and the benefits chamber membership provides.
They're hoping to have about 50 employers for the job fair and 30 community groups for the registration portion, said Soch.
While confirming vendors has been a little slow so far, they're hoping people will return from vacation and take advantage of the event, she said.
So far, they have secured four sponsors and three vendors for the job fair.
Both job fair and registration vendors will be set up in the curling rink during the event.
The Town of Ponoka will also be hosting a free public skate in the arena and will holding a 'Coffee with Council' booth at the fair. Citizens will have a chance to give their input on the 2025 budget and participate in fun, family-friendly activities.
The chamber will be firing up the grill for a free community barbecue during the event, which will be located at the front doors of the arena. While it's free, community members are encouraged to give a cash donation to the Ponoka Youth Centre.
The proceeds from Ponoka Connects will go to the centre to support their programs.
For more information on becoming a vendor or a sponsor, email admin@ponokachamber.ca or call 403-783-3888.
