Ponoka’s annual Passport to Christmas program was successful once again, with approximately $2.5 million put into the local economy.

The program worked with 50 businesses in the community and encouraged residents to shop local over the holidays.

Manager of Ponoka’s Chamber of Commerce, Heather Bandera says this program is great for keeping the local economy thriving.

“The more you support your local economy, the more it is going to be allowed to grow. If you don’t then pretty soon what’s going to happen is your local economy is going to be shutting down, you won’t be able to get anything local, everyone will have to travel to do it.”

This year they handed out a whopping, 8417 passports to residents, which is just short of last years 8453, with 49 businesses involved.

Bandera says this program is one of the many perks of living in a small city or community.

“The people that are owning the businesses they’re not just the business owner, they coach your kids' hockey team, your kids go to school together, it’s a very symbiotic relationship.”