The Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce has finally made their draws live on Sunny 94 after another successful Passport to Christmas.  

For the first time ever, the grand prize, $3,000 in Lacombe bucks went to a non-profit organization. The Lacombe and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) will be receiving this year’s top prize.  

“This is the first time a non-profit is one of the major players of $3,000 thanks so much to ECHO Lacombe for doing that. Echo Lacombe does so much more than their food rescue but their food rescue program is incredible but thank you so much for that,” said Jeffrey Hanger Executive Director of the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce.  

The other winners included the following:  

  • 2nd Prize ($1,500)- Shauna Rausch  
  • 3rd Prize ($1,000)- Vera Wiebe 
  • Partial Passport Draw ($500)- Billy Omagap 

This year, over 18,000 passports were returned, 97 local businesses participated in the program from Lacombe, Bentley, and Eckville.  

“$1,000,000 more was spent this year than last year so, a total of $5.4 million was spent that we can track through the program,” added Hanger.  

People outside of Central Alberta also made the trip to do some Christmas shopping including Athabasca, Medicine Hat, Calgary, and even some from Saskatchewan.  

“That means that these people are coming to Lacombe to spend their bucks, to spend their dollars and we can track it. So that's fantastic!”  

Overall, Jeff was very pleased with the results of the program. The program is run by Helen Peck who has worked with the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce for almost 10 years. Peck runs the Passport to Christmas program alongside her husband, Alvin Peck who volunteers to help out. It was their final event with the Chamber of Commerce before Helen steps away from her role with the Chamber.  

“I'd just like to say a huge, massive, thank you to Helen and Alvin for organizing the Passport to Christmas and Trade Show and being part of the Chamber for so many years. There's just no way we could have done it without them. We are hugely thankful and we hope to see them around town soon,” added Hanger.