A Ponoka community member has organized a fall registration night for local sports and recreation organizations, that will be held alongside the Ponoka Community Market on Monday, Aug. 30.
“I just kind of saw the need,” said Keri Hulsman, who put the event together.
Hulsman heard there wasn’t going to be the usual mass registration night hosted by the town, and with both of her boys in hockey and her two girls in dance, she decided to plan an impromptu registration night.
Hulsman is also the secretary for the Ponoka Minor Hockey Association (PMHA).
Between seven to 10 groups have confirmed they will be attending the event, all of whom are local Ponoka organizations. Some of the groups attending include PMHA, Got 2 Dance, Ponoka Skating Club, and the Ponoka Youth Centre.
A lot of sports have already started or will soon, so the registration night had to be organized quickly.
If any other groups want to join in, they are welcome to come set up a table for the free event. Hulsman just asks that they call ahead of time and let her know so they can plan for the space for tables.
She can be contacted on her Facebook page or on her cell at 403-704-7228.
Hulsman says her family are frequent shoppers at the community market and her mother helps run the market with Debbie Lamey, so the venue was a natural fit.
Weather permitting, the market on Monday will also include the annual Penny Carnival.
READ MORE: Ponoka’s annual Penny Carnival postponed to next week
According to the Town of Ponoka communications manager Sandra Smith, the town didn’t hold a registration night this year because there wasn’t a facility available as the arena is still under construction to add in the new ice plant.
Smith says the town consulted with the facility’s user groups and offered alternatives to them.
“Over the summer, we invited each of our facility user groups to use our facilities at no charge to host an in-person registration night for their club if they wished,” said Smith.
Several groups expressed interest, including, PMHA, Ponoka Rec Hockey and the Ponoka Pool Sharks, all of which had, or plans to hold a registration night at a town facility, says Smith.