The Town of Ponoka is proclaiming their Passport to Christmas as a huge success this year, as close to 50 business participated.

The program ran from November 6th until December 15th in Lacombe, and until the 24th in Ponoka, with events like Midnight Madness offering double stamps in both communities.

Executive Manager of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce Heather Bandera says it's a small commitment for business to participate in the program, which can yield huge rewards for them and their customers.

“We had 49 businesses this year as opposed to 43 last year. We had some new businesses as opposed to the same old same old every year. The response was better than what we could have hoped for. Every business when they participate, they donate a $25 gift card and the winner gets to go in to the business to collect their gift card.”

A total of 8453 passports were completed and handed to one of 49 participating businesses in Ponoka, for a total of over 2.5 million dollars.

A total of 74 local businesses participated here in Lacombe, spending a total of 2.9 million dollars in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays.

Here is a list of the local winners in Ponoka.

BUSINESS

WINNER’S NAME

Adams Chevrolet

Dustin Shivak

Altitude Laser Spa

Mary Desaulners

Birchland Dental

Dayna Wittal

Boston Pizza

Marian Wianko

Bruce’s True Value

Jim Short

Busted Ladies Lingerie

Joan Prediger

Central Office Supplies

Gevlse Saveac

Direct Travel

Leon Braseth

Flowers For You

Sheri Kroening

Gord’s No Frills

Marlene York

Gypsy Fringe Boutique

Yvonne Splett

Hamilton’s IGA

JoAnne Johnston

Hammy’s Spirits

Haydee Sieweche

Heartland  Feeds

Dave Piel

Husky Ponoka

Eileen Kinnaird

Julie’s Travel

Todd Kreil

Legacy Ford Ponoka

Norma Grant

Liquor Sphere

Marie Welch

Mainstreet Hardware

Vicenta E. Jimenez

Mirage Virtual Reality

Nieske Schuur

   

Ponoka Golf Club

Deb Neilson

Ponoka Coop Oils

Duane Stretch

Ponoka Eyecare

 

Ponoka Health Foods

Gill Poulter

Ponoka License and Registry

Maryanne Folkerts

Ponoka Liquor Depot

Loni Johnson

Ponoka News

Darell Adams

Ponoka Physiotherapy and Acupuncture

Patricia Lloyd

Ponoka Professional Phar

Brenda Koayba

Ranchers Castle

Sheryl Kreil

   

Shoppers Drug Mart

Sharon Hudema

Sisters Country Rustics

Melanie Tonneson

Sommer Home Hardware

Danny Clara

Strand Media Corp

Trevor Cromevtic

Tangles Hair Design

Debbie Walcheske

Tantec Electronics

Sandra Beardsley

   

The Cutting Edge

Dianna Frischke

The Hitch’in Post

Linda Banco

The Jones Boys Saddlery and Western Wear

Glenda Orlesky

The Liquor Store

Daneel Abt

The Source

Jessica Vleeming

Thirsk Automotive

Dwight Dufra

Torch & Teal

Sharon Hoffman

Twisted Label

Diera Bigalow

Wagners Automotive

Trudy Erickson

Wedins Team and Corporate

Kristy Lourance