Diamonds and Denim

Diamonds and Denim

Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce's 2026 Business Awards Gala is set for Friday, Oct. 23! 

Every thriving community has people who go above and beyond - leaders, innovators, volunteers, and business owners who make a lasting impact through their vision, integrity, and commitment to others.These awards are an opportunity to recognize those individuals and businesses whose hard work helps our community grow and thrive.

Do you know someone who deserves to be celebrated? Whether they're leading a successful business, supporting local initiatives, or making a difference behind the scenes, now is the time to start thinking about who you'd like to nominate.

Nominations open September 2!

Join us Friday, Oct. 23 with the theme: Diamonds and Denim. 

The focus for the Ponoka Chamber is to elevate this experience for everyone involved. This year's categories focus on our greater community (titles link to the polls which go live Sept. 2): 

How it's going to work

September 2 Nominations Open - Click Here to find out more
September 19 Nominations Close
September 22 Nomination Packages Emailed
September 29 Nominee Submissions Due
September 30 to October 2 Eligibility Review and Category Verification
October 3 to 5 Chamber Committee Scores Submissions and Selects Top 3 Finalists
October 6 Finalists Announced Publicly
October 6 to 10  Finalist Packages Sent to Lacombe Chamber for Independent Judging
October 10 Winners Delivered: Confidential
October 13 Awards Sent for Engraving
October 23 Diamonds and Denim - Business Awards of Excellence Celebration

Nominations 

You have 17 days to get your names in! It's during this time that we expect a great influx of nominees. There are 10 categories. Nominate here! 

Nomination Criteria 

●      Chamber members may nominate themselves.

●      Individual nominees must be currently employed by a Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce business member in good standing.

●      Business nominees must be a chamber member in good standing as defined in the Bylaws.

●      Businesses and/or individuals may only win in one award category (exception: An individual employed by a winning business can win one of the following: Customer Service Person, Young Business Leader or Business Person of the Year).

●      Previous winners cannot be nominated in the same category for two consecutive years.

●      The Chamber is committed to follow up on all nominations.

●      The Business Awards Committee will review nominations to ensure the integrity of each category and its corresponding criteria.

Diamonds and Denim Business Awards of Excellence Gala is set for Friday, Oct. 23!

Past Winners

  • Service / Community Group
    Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse 
  • Startup Business 
    Wolf Creek Taekwondo
  • Tourism / Hospitality
    The Crow
  • Small Business
    Ponoka Professional Pharmacy
  • Large Business
    Longhorn Saloon & Grill
  • Farm Family / Agricultural Business
    CODE Custom Farming 
  • Legacy Business
    Phase 3 Electric
  • Young Business Leader 
    Lana Thompson - Summit Media Group
  • Customer Service Person (People's Choice Award) 
    Julie Morrell - Ponoka Professional Pharmacy
  • Business Person
    Dr. Trevor Hook - Central Veterinary Clinic

  • StartUp Business of the Year

    – Quality Glass Alberta

  • Small Business Winner

    - Under Pressure Line Jetting Inc.

  • Medium Business Winner

    - Tantec Electronics

  • Large Business Winner

    - eighteen91 Ltd.

  • Tourism/Hospitality Business of the Year

    – Ponoka Stampede Association

  • Young Business Leader of the Year

    – Tanner McLaren - Pick 6 PDR & Detail Ltd

  • Community/ Service Group of the Year

    – Ponoka & Area Minor Football

  • Customer Service Person Winner

    – Marijke Kager - Busted Ladies Lingerie

  • Legacy Business of the Year

    – Flowers For You

  • Inger Laing Memorial Business Person Winner

    – Jane Wierzba - ReMax Real Estate Central Alberta

  • Large Business Winner

    -Heartland Feeds

  • Medium Business Winner

    -Timber Coffee Company

  • Small Business Winner

    -Makkinga Market

  • Inger Laing Memorial Business Person Winner

    – Jamil Rawji, Ponoka Professional Pharmacy

  • New Business of the Year

    – Brittany Jo & Co Wellness Inc.

  • Community/ Service Group of the Year

    – Ponoka Youth Centre

  • Customer Service Person Winner

    – Kathy Hosler, Sommer Home Hardware Building Centre

  • Legacy Business of the year

    – Calanah Builders Ltd.

  • Large Business Winner

    -Heartland Feeds

  • Medium Business Winner

    -Siding 14 Brewing Company

  • Small Business Winner

    -Makkinga Market

  • Inger Laing Memorial Business Person Winner

    – Steve Wass - Under Pressure Sewerline Jetting Inc

  • New Business of the Year

    – Ponoka Family Chiropractic

  • Community/ Service Group of the Year

    – Central Alberta Youth Unlimited

  • Customer Service Person Winner

    – Ryan Moore - Ponoka Community Golf Club

  • Legacy Business of the year

    – Sommer Home Hardware

  • Large Business Winner

    -Sommer Home Hardware Building Centre

  • Medium Business Winner

    -Tantec Electronics Ltd

  • Small Business Winner

    -Lux Salon and Boutique

  • Industrial Business of the Year

    – Phase 3 Electric

  • Agricultural Business of the Year

    – Heartland Feeds

  • Inger Laing Memorial Business Person Winner

    – Diane Rose, Rose Creations

  • Not for Profit Winner

    – Ponoka FCSS

  • Customer Service Person Winner

    – Josh Schumacher - Tantec Electronics

  • Large Business of the Year

    -Adams GMC

  • Medium Business of the Year

    -The Cutting Edge

  • Small Business of the Year

    -Central Office Supplies

  • Industrial Business of the Year

    – Under Pressure Line Jetting

  • Agricultural Business of the Year

    – Heartland Feeds

  • Business Person of the Year

    – Terry Demoline, Gypsy Fringe Boutique

  • Not for Profit of the Year

    – Ponoka Community Golf Club

  • Customer Service Person of the Year

    – Bob Dean, Town and Country Supplies and Rentals

  • Large Business of the Year

    -Phase 3 Electric Ponoka Ltd

  • Medium Business of the Year

    -Siding 14 Brewing Company

  • Small Business of the Year

    -Flowers For You

  • Industrial Business of the Year

    – Under Pressure Line Jetting

  • Agricultural Business of the Year

    – Ponoka Veterinary Clinic

  • Business Person of the Year

    – Kim Green, Altitude Spa and Kim Green Dental Hygiene Centre

    – Kathy Masters, Ponoka Health Foods Etc

  • Not for Profit of the Year

    – Ponoka Youth Centre

  • Customer Service Person of the Year

    – Ida Buryniuk - Gord's No Frills

  • Large Business of the Year

    -Sommer's Home Hardware

  • Medium Business of the Year

    -Siding 14 Brewing Company

  • Small Business of the Year

    - Hot Express Food Truck and Stafford Catering

    - Prairie Boys Truck and Car Wash

  • Business Person of the Year

    – Jim Hamilton - IGA/Hammy's Spirits

  • Agricultural Business of the Year

    – Ponoka Veterinary Clinic

  • Non-Profit of the Year

    – Calnash Ag Events Centre

  • Customer Service Person of the Year

    – Susie Bell - Adams Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd

    - Brenda Selke - Shoppers Drug Mart

    - Penny Van Petten - Ponoka Dental Centre

  • Industrial Business of the Year

    – Under Pressure Line Jetting

  • Large Business of the Year

    ATB Financial

  • Medium Business of the Year 

    Tantec Electronics Ltd

  • Small Business of the Year

    Flowers For You

  • Industrial Business of the Year

    Almita Piling Inc

  • Agricultural Business of the Year

    Ponoka Fertilizer Ltd

  • Non-Profit of the Year

    Ponoka Kinsmen Club

  • Business Person of the Year

    Judy Dick

  • Service Person of the Year

    Allie Biever - Altitude Spa