The Ponoka Stampede executive sponsored suites were vandalized causing approximately $10,000 worth of damage.
Frank Mickey, long-term member of the Ponoka Stampede Association discovered the damage as he was making his rounds of the grounds. It is suspected that the suites, which were all locked, were vandalized sometime between April 25 to 27.
Seven of the eight suites, which overlook the bucking chutes were entered where pictures were broken, couches were cut, windows were broken, liquid cleaner was thrown around the room and paper towels were everywhere.
The members of the PSA association who responded said that the biggest thing for them was the history that was destroyed in the rooms. Each of the rooms had pictures of all of the local inductees. They said that a lot of local history was damaged, which is important to the Stampede. They said that it is very sad that someone would vandalize the park considering that they are all volunteers who take care of it.
The Ponoka Stampede Association said that they are offering a $500 reward for a tip leading to the arrest of the vandals.
Cst. Tim Yaworski of the Ponoka RCMP collected bottles and other items hopefully to collect fingerprints of the suspects.
“It’s pretty sad. This is a lot of damage for no reason,” said Yaworski.
If you have any information on the vandalism at the Stampede grounds you can contact Ponoka RCMP detachment at 403-783-4472 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or now leave tips anonymously on-line at www.tipsubmit.com.