Skip to content

Nearly $2,600 raised in 26th annual PSC fundraiser

Student vs Staff contest still a big deal for the school
19745048_web1_191218-PON-SantaShowdown_2
(L-R) Staff player Tess Pearman chases after the loose puck while student Emma Christiansen doesn’t know where it is as staff Richard Ursulak looks on during action in the first half. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

A packed house greeted the participants in the annual Ponoka Secondary Campus (PSC) Santa Showdown, leading to yet another successful fundraiser.

The event held on Dec. 10 featured a hockey game broken up with a series of skilled and not-so-skilled challenges between a team of Grade 12 students and a squad of teachers along with a few fill-ins that helped raise money for the school’s Santa’s Anonymous program.

Event organizer and teacher Ron Labrie was thoroughly pleased, as they were able to raise $2,560.25.

“The Showdown was another great success. It was nice to see our community supporting this great cause once again,” Labrie said.

A couple of highlights of the night Labrie mentioned included the fact this was the final game for the soon-to-be retired teacher Rob Haggarty and that the teachers actually won this time around.

“Haggarty has played in every Santa Showdown since he came to our school back in 2000 and rumour has it that he is donating his equipment to a museum,” Labrie added with a bit of a chuckle.

“And, the staff won a defensive battle 35-29, but more importantly, the teachers finally won the tug-o-war after 25 years of unsuccessful attempts.”

Lastly, Labrie wanted to acknowledge that it is very heartwarming to see what affect this event has had, and continues to have, on some former students.

“Two of the major sponsors for our Scoro event — Clay Morrow of CMC Instrumentation and Controls and Nelson Schultz of Gemini Fabrication — are alumni of the Santa Showdown,” he said.

“It is heartwarming to see former students graciously supporting this event years after their graduation.”

19745048_web1_191218-PON-SantaShowdown_3
Student Curtis French skates to get back in the play as Staff player Tess Pearman fires a clearing pass up the ice. Photo by Jordie Dwyer
19745048_web1_191218-PON-SantaShowdown_4
Staff player Rod Mercer holds off student Ashton Johnson in making a driver for the student goal in the opening half of play. Photo by Jordie Dwyer