Ponoka is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located at the junction of Highway 2A and Highway 53, north of

Red Deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or Hart (deer), hart, and a female is called a doe or hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Ir ...

and south of

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

. The name Ponoka is Blackfoot for "elk", which is the animal depicted in the town flag. Ponoka County's municipal office is located in Ponoka.

History

Ponoka (meaning elk in Blackfoot) is in a territory that was occupied and stewarded by the Cree people for thousands of years. The colonial settler town of Ponoka originated in 1891 as a waypoint for the railway from Edmonton to

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

; the town was formally incorporated in 1904.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by

Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (StatCan; ), formed in 1971, is the agency of the Government of Canada commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. It is headquartered in ...

, the Town of Ponoka had a population of 7,331 living in 3,086 of its 3,340 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,229. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Ponoka recorded a population of 7,229 living in 3,010 of its 3,301 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 6,778. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

Industries are agriculture (grain and cattle production) and oil and gas production.

Arts and culture

Ponoka is home to the Ponoka Stampede, a seven-day

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

held at the end of June or beginning of July, usually coinciding with the

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long weekend. This annual event is part of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association's professional tour, and features a midway and other activities. The Ponoka Stampede is a stop for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association and the All Pro Canadian Chuckwagons.

Attractions

The Wolf Creek Trail starts at the southern end of Ponoka near the Ponoka Community Golf Course and travels northwards along the Battle River for several kilometres. Informational signs are posted along the trail featuring descriptions of various local wild animals and historical facts. Several baseball diamonds, benches and picnic tables are also located along the trail. Lions Centennial Park is a major park located along the west side of Highway 2A. It features a pond with a dock, several bathroom facilities, a stage, "The World's Largest Bucking Saddle Bronc and Rider", the Centennial Time Capsule, several gazebos with picnic tables and the Fort Ostell Museum, as well as a splash park.

Notable people

* Jim Butterfield, computing author * Marcel Comeau, ice hockey coach and National Hockey League team executive * Harry York, former professional hockey player * Maddison Pearman, Olympic long track speed skater

Infrastructure

Health care Health care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wikt:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physic ...

facilities in Ponoka include the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre, the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury, the Northcott Care Centre, and the Rimoka Housing Facility. The Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre is responsible for general health care, while the Centennial Centre serves as a care and treatment facility for mental health and is known for its brain injury program (the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury). The Northcott Care Centre, Rimoka Housing Facility and Seasons Retirement Community all care for the elderly, with the Northcott Care Centre focusing on care for people with disabilities and Seasons providing supportive living care.

Services

Fire service is provided by the Ponoka County Volunteer Fire Department. Policing is the responsibility of the Ponoka

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...

(RCMP) Detachment. General bylaw enforcement is undertaken by the town's special constable in collaboration with the RCMP.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1900 establishments in the Northwest Territories Towns in Alberta 1891 establishments in the Northwest Territories