County of Ponoka GenWeb Project Local Resources


Where possible, direct links to resources have been provided, as have mailing addresses, phones, faxes and/or email addresses. If you have any suggestions for additional resources, please contact us so we can include them.
ARCHIVES
The Provincial Archives	The National Archives
Alberta Archives	Canadian Archives
ORGANIZATIONS
Genealogical Societies	Local Native Organizations
Historical Societies	Alberta LDS Family History Centres
LIBRARIES
Search the regional library catalogue	Family History Libraries
OTHER RESOURCES
	Look-up Volunteers

COUNTY LOCATED RESOURCES
Cemeteries	Churches
Funeral Homes	Libraries - County & Regional
Newspapers	Nursing Homes & Hospitals
Registry Offices	Schools

We've a little more work to do... Please check back ...

County of Ponoka Churches (past and present) - also see the cemetery listing below
Visit the Church History Index to review the history of many of the churches below. Lists of charter members, clergymen, confirmation classes, etc can be found in most of the articles. As well, to see more information on the national/international churches, see the Important Records page
CHURCH:		LOCATION / CONTACT INFORMATION:	GENEALOGICAL RECORDS CAN BE FOUND:
ALLIANCE:
Alliance Church Ponoka		4215 46 St, Ponoka, AB T4J 1C1 Phone: (403) 783-3958	--
ANGLICAN:
Church of the Epiphany Anglican Church		5207 - 52 Avenue, Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Mail: P.O. Box 199, Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Phone: 403-843- 2597 or EMAIL	This parish is part of the Red Deer Deanery. Diocese of Calgary OR Provincial Archives of Alberta (some records only)
Parish of St Mary Anglican Church (or here)		5120 - 49th Avenue, Ponoka, AB T4J 1J1 Phone: (403) 783-4329	Diocese of Edmonton OR Provincial Archives of Alberta (some records only)
BAPTIST:
Concord Baptist Church		--	--
First Baptist Church		5109 57 Ave Ponoka, AB T4J 1G5 Phone: (403) 783-5533	--
Water Glen Baptist Church		Location: 24-28-2-W4th	--
CATHOLIC:
Bluffton Catholic Church		Burned down April 9, 1965	--
Lady of Our Snows Catholic Church		Location: 27-20-2-W4th -the church bldg is no longer used as a church	Edmonton Archdiocese Chancery Office 8421 - 101 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6A 0L1 Phone: (403) 488-0118
Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church		5113 - 52nd Avenue Ponoka, AB T4J 1H6 Phone: (403) 783-4048 or Fax: (403) 783-4555	Edmonton Archdiocese Chancery Office 8421 - 101 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6A 0L1 Phone: (403) 488-0118
St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church		Mail: P.O.Box 8 , Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-2126 or (403) 843-2126 Fax: (403) 843-4690	Edmonton Archdiocese Chancery Office 8421 - 101 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6A 0L1 Phone: (403) 488-0118
St. Michael's Hungarian Roman Catholic Mission (also known as Manfred Church)		Location: SE 32-42-22-W4th (Manfred district) -Used for special occasions only ...	Edmonton Archdiocese Chancery Office 8421 - 101 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6A 0L1 Phone: (403) 488-0118
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS:
Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall (Ponoka)		Location: 6311-51 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1E4 Phone: (403) 783-5622	--
Rimbey Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses		Mail: Box 1522 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-3273	--
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS (MORMON):
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS)		Box 345 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-2718	LDS Family History Library 3002 47th Avenue, Red Deer, AB T4N 3P1 Phone: (403) 346-6768
LUTHERAN:
Asker Lutheran Church		Location: SE corner of SE 10-43-23-W4th Mail: RR #1 Stn Main., Ponoka, AB T4J 1R1 Phone: (403) 783-2229	Part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Synod of Alberta and the Territories Lutheran Historical Institute 7100 Ada Boulevard, Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4E4 Phone: (403) 474-8156 or Fax: (403) 477-9829
Calvary Lutheran Church		Location: 24-31-2-W4th	Lutheran Historical Institute (see above) OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
Danish Lutheran Church		--	Lutheran Historical Institute (see above) OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
Saint Peter's Lutheran Church		--	Lutheran Historical Institute (see above) OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
St. Cross (KreÚz) Lutheran Church		--	--
Trinity Lutheran Church		5501-54 Avenue, Ponoka, AB T4J 1L8 Phone:403-783-4141 EMAIL	Part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Synod of Alberta and the Territories Lutheran Historical Institute OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
Zion Lutheran Church		Mail: P.O. Box 133, Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 343-2767	Part of the Lutheran Church-Canada, Alberta-British Columbia District Lutheran Historical Institute (see above) OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
MENNONITE:
Echo Valley Church of God in Christ (Mennonite)		Location: 13 km north of Rimbey on Hwy. 20 Mail: Bluffton, AB, T0C 0M0 Phone: (403) 843-2165	Genealogical Resource of the Mennonite Church in Canada
METHODIST:
Concord Free Methodist Church		Church no longer holds services?	The Free Methodist Church in Canada
Ellis Free Methodist Church		--	The Free Methodist Church in Canada
MORAVIAN:
Moravian Church		Church bldg is no longer used as a church	Canadian Moravian Historical Society 2304 - 38 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6L 4K9 Phone: (403) 440-3050 or Fax: (403) 463-2143 or E-MAIL
REFORMED:
Parkland Reformed Church		Mail: PO Box 4066, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R5 Phone: (403) 783-1888	--
Rimbey Christian Reform Church		Location: 5506 - 51 Ave, Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Mail: Box 994 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-2585 Fax: (403) 843-4486	--
Sonrise Christian Reform Church		Location: 1/2 mile S of Alberta Hospital Mail: P.O.Box 4354 Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R7 Phone: (403)-783-6012	--
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST:
Seventh Day Adventist Church (Ponoka)		6230 - 57 Avenue, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1L0 Phone: (403) 783-6404 or EMAIL	These churches are part of the Alberta Conference Records are maintained by the individual churches and Conferences. Also see the Adventist Archives site for more info, and check out theAdventist on-line searchable obituary and periodical indices
Seventh Day Adventist Church (Rimbey)		Location: 52 Ave. & 51 Street, Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Mail: P.O. Box 763, Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-2261 or (403) 843-3619 or EMAIL
UNITED:
Dakota United Church		Location: 19-28-2-W4th	Alberta & Northwest Conference Archives OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
Rimbey United Church		Mail: Box 7 Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-2458	Alberta & Northwest Conference Archives OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
Zion United Church		Location: SE corner of SW 1-43-24-W4th	Alberta & Northwest Conference Archives OR Provincial Archives of Alberta
OTHER DENOMINATIONS:
Church of Christ		closed about 1936	--
Church of the Nazarene		P.O. Box 889. Rimbey AB T0C 2J0 Phone: 403-843-2029 or 403- 843-3306	Records are kept by individual churches. For mre information, see the Nazarene Archives
Church of the Open Bible		3708-42 Street, AB T4J 1A7 Phone: (403) 783-6500	--
Hoadley Evangelical Missionary Church		--	--
Meadowbrook Church		Location: 7-11-1-W4th Mail: R.R. #3, Lacombe, AB T0C 1S0 Phone: (403) 782-5691	--
Ponoka Pentacostal Tabernacle		--	--
Rimbey New Life Fellowship		Location: 5038 - 49 Avenue Mail: Box 1414 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 Phone: (403) 843-3336	--
The Russian Church (Greek Orthodox)		--	--
St. Michael's Church		--	--
Word of Life Center		5009-53 Avenue, Ponoka, Alberta Phone: (403) 783-5659	--
The Provincial Archives of Alberta is the official depository for the records of the provincial government, however, records from some other organizations can be found there as well. They can be contacted at the following address, etc to confirm their holdings:
	Provincial Archives of Alberta 12845-102 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5N 0M6 Phone: (780) 427-1750 or Fax: (780) 427-4646 or E-MAIL
For more information on some of the above and other churches, also see "Church Histories"

County of Ponoka REGISTRY OFFICES
These agencies are authorized registries to provide copies of birth certificates, etc
EckRim Agencies Ltd	Box 770, 4817 - 51 Street, RIMBEY, Alberta T0C 2J0	Phone: (403) 843-3838	Fax: (403) 843-3840
Ponoka License & Registry	Box 4204, 4902 - 50 Street, PONOKA, Alberta T4J 1R6	Phone: (403) 783-5525	Fax: (403) 783-5565

County of Ponoka FUNERAL HOMES
Some of the following information may be found in funeral home records:
Full name of the deceased		Names and addresses of immediate family
Date and place of birth		Military service
Date and place of death		Church membership
Name of both parents		Fraternal and civic organizations
Death certificate number		---
Some funeral homes may include a clipping of the newspaper obituary, and a few details of the funeral service.
Bowker Funeral Home	5137 - 50 Avenue, PONOKA, Alberta		Phone: (403) 783-3122
Oberhammer Funeral Chapel	4922 - 50 Avenue, RIMBEY, Alberta		Phone: (403) 843-4445

County of Ponoka CEMETERIES (and interment lists)
Asker Cemetery	Nathaniel Lutheran Cemetery
Bismark Lutheran Cemetery	Rimbey West Haven Cemetery
Burn Brae (Homeglen) Cemetery	St. Mary's Cemetery
Dakota United Church Cemetery	St Mary's Convent Cemetery
Earlville Rutherford Cemetery	St. Michael's Cemetery
Ellis Free Methodist Cemetery	St Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
Ferrybank Cemetery	Svea Lutheran Cemetery
Forest Home Municipal Cemetery	Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Hoadley Cemetery	Twin Creek Cemetery - INTERMENT LIST AVAILABLE
Iola Fairview Cemetery	Water Glen Baptist Cemetery
Meadowvale Cemetery	Zion United Church Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery - INTERMENT LIST AVAILABLE	--
Indices to grave markers and burial records from the Ponoka and Rimbey and Bluffton areas have been collected by the Alberta Genealogical Society and others, and are available at the AGS library or for purchase.
For more information on some of the above cemeteries, also see the "Local Cemetery Histories" or the "Local Area Cemetery Interment List" pages

FAMILY HISTORY CENTRES in Alberta
The Church of Jesus Christ & the Latter Days Saints (Mormons) run the Family History Centres which, while each housing their own collections of records, also allow a researcher to borrow records on microfische/microfilm, etc such as census, books, etc from the main library in Salt Lake City. These Centres are truly one of the best resources for anyone compiling their genealogy. To search the LDS on-line database and learn about the large number of resources available at the Family History Libraries, visit their main site for genealogists, or visit a local library:
RED DEER	3002 47th Avenue, Red Deer, AB	Phone: (403) 346-6768
EDMONTON	9010 85th Street, Edmonton, AB	Phone (780) 469-6460
CALGARY	2021 17th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB	Phone: (403) 245-2949
CARDSTON (Temple)	846 First Avenue West, Cardston, AB	Phone: (403) 653-3288
LETHBRIDGE	1912 - 10th Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 0B7	Phone: (403) 328-0206	Web page

County of Ponoka LIBRARIES & CATALOGUES
PARKLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY	>> Library located near Ponoka County - search their catalogue which contains lots of local resources that can be borrowed through interlibrary loan programs...
RIMBEY MUNICIPAL LIBRARY	>> A LOCAL Ponoka County library Mail: Box 1130, Rimbey T0C 2J0
ALBERTA LIBRARY	>> A province-wide multitype library consortium
PONOKA JUBILEE LIBRARY	Location: 5110 - 48 Avenue Mail: Box 4610, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R6 Phone: (403) 783-3843 or Fax: 403-783-6745 or EMAIL

Local History Books "LOOK-UP" VOLUNTEERS
These locally written history books offer both the development of the areas they cover, along with many short biographies of local families, as well as school and business histories. Check out the indexes (see below) to see if the surname you are researching is listed!
Crestomere Memories	Local history of the Crestomere area of Ponoka County		BOOK INDEX	Deb or Leah
Mecca Glen Memories	Local history of Mecca Glen area of Ponoka County	Now available ON-LINE!!	BOOK INDEX	Deb or Leah
Ponoka Panorama	Local history of Ponoka and western area of Ponoka County		BOOK INDEX	Deb or Leah
Over the Years...	Local history of town of Rimbey and area.		BOOK INDEX	Deb
Also see the "Related Book Resources" page

County of Ponoka SCHOOLS (current)	(many of the original rural schools no longer exist - for historical info, see the School District Index)
School	Location and/or Postal Address	Contact:
Alberta Hospital School	Box 1000, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R8	Phone: (403) 783-7623 Fax: (403) 783-7869 or EMAIL
Bluffton School	Box 1, Site 2, R.R. 1 Bluffton, Alberta T0C 0M0	Phone: (403) 843-6528 or Fax: (403) 843-6532 or EMAIL
Community Outreach School	5214-50 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1S7	Phone: (403) 783-5464 Fax: (403) 783-8225 or EMAIL
Crestomere School	R.R. #3, Lacombe, Alberta T0C 1S0	Phone: (403) 783-2141 Fax: (403) 783-2135
Crestomere School	R.R. #3, Lacombe, Alberta T0C 1S0	Phone: (403) 783-2141 Fax: (403) 783-2135
Diamond Willow Middle School	5510-48 Avenue, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N7	Phone: (403) 783-3386 Fax: (403) 783-3388
Echo Valley Christian School	--	--
Mamawi Atosketan Native School	R.R. #4, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada T4J 1R4	Phone: (403) 783- 4362 Fax: (403) 347-0282 or EMAIL
Mecca Glen School	R.R. #1, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R1	Phone: (403) 783-2463 Fax: (403) 783-6666 or EMAIL
Ponoka Christian School	6300 50 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1E6	Phone: (403) 783-6563
Ponoka Composite High School	6002-54 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N9	Phone: (403) 783-4411 Fax: (403) 783-5450 or EMAIL
Ponoka Elementary School	5004 - 54 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N8	Phone: (403) 783-3583 Fax: (403) 783-6094 or EMAIL
Rimbey Christian School	4522 54 Ave, Rimbey Box 90, Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J	Phone: (403) 843-3904 or Fax: (403) 843-3904 or EMAIL
Rimbey Elementary School	5302 - 52 Street, Rimbey P.O. Box 710 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0	Phone: (403) 843-3751 or Fax: (403) 843-2093 or EMAIL
Rimbey Junior-Senior High School (or here)	Box 620 Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0	Phone: (403) 843-3761 or Fax: (403) 843-4111 or EMAIL
Riverside Elementary School	4003-43 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1P3	Phone: (403) 783-3965 Fax: (403) 783-5341 or EMAIL
St. Augustine's Catholic School	4512 55 Street, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N6	Phone: (403) 783-5541
St. Thomas Aquinas RCSRD No. 22	--	Phone: (403) 783-9216
Woodlands Adventist School	Centre Street, Ponoka RR 3, Site 2, Box 16 Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R3	Phone: (403) 783-2640 or Fax: (403) 783-2640 or EMAIL
Some of the histories of the schools listed are available on in the "School District Histories"* page*

County & Regional Newspapers
Newspapers can provide an excellent view of the development of a town and county, along with information about it's community and citizens. Obituaries, birth & wedding notices placed by family members provide information and clues that may prove useful when researching a family's story.
In the town of Ponoka, the local newspaper was the Ponoka Herald from around 1900 to 1984. The paper eventually folded and it's archives were auctioned off (where they ended up is something I am trying to determine), however the local museum kindly microfilmed most of the issues.
North Country Times	From 1950 until at least 1951 Leroy E. Brownlee published a monthly one-sheet newspaper, North Country Times, which covered news in Hoadley, Bluffton and Rimbey districts.
The National Hobby and Trader	From 1949 until at least 1958 Leroy E. Brownlee printed a lonely-hearts newsletter, entitled The National Hobby and Trader, which had a Canada-wide circulation, and reached the lovelorn as far away as Missouri.
Ponoka Herald	Microfilmed archives are available at the Fort Ostell Museum. Phone: (403) 783-5224
Rimbey Review	Established in 1997, this small weekly paper covers the area around the town of Rimbey.
Ponoka News On-Line	I have included this site in the hope that someday they may actually update their site as they have indicated they intend to do... Check it out - you never know!

Local Aboriginal Organizations
Visit the Musee Heritage Museum and search their data base of over 15, 000 names. It is an excellent resource for anyone searching out their Aboriginal, Metis, or Francophone roots on-line.
The following is a list of local aboriginal bands:
BAND	CHIEF	ADDRESS	PHONE/FAX/EMAIL
Ermineskin Band	Gerry Ermineskin	P.O. Box 219, Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0	Phone: (780) 585-3741 Fax: (780) 585-2550
Louis Bull Band	Helen Bull	P.O. Box 130, Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0	Phone: (780) 585-2064 Fax: (780) 585-3799
Montana Band	Darrell Strongman	P.O. Box 70, Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0	Phone: (780) 585-3744 Fax: (780) 585-3264
Samson Cree Nation	Lena Cutknife	P.O. Box 159, Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0	Phone: (780) 421-4926 Toll Free: 1-800-661-2579 Fax: (780) 585-2700
For information about treaties & other aboriginal organizations, visit Aboriginal Affairs

Looking for more information ? Check out these sites....

Come, visit our Archives site for more bakground info about the County of Ponoka

Come, visit our Historical Archives for more about the development of the County of Ponoka

Visit the Canada & Alberta GenWeb Projects...

All articles & graphics were developed, compiled or created by D.A. Owens. © 1997 - 2003. All Rights Reserved. The information provided is for research purposes only, and it's accuracy is subject to confirmation. Commercial use of this information is prohibited.