The Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society fired the manager of the Ag event centre, Chas Lambert, on February 13 without notice or reason. The vice-president of the society confirmed Lambert's firing but did not provide a reason. Lambert had goals of gaining national recognition for the centre and making it the most successful in Western Canada. He felt better direction and policies from the board could have made his job easier. Only six of the nine directors were involved in the decision to fire Lambert.

1. Ponoka & District
Chamber of Commerce
Small Business
of the Year
2008
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 Vol. 65, No. 8 403-783-3311 editorial@ponokanews.com www.ponokanews.com
DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PONOKA
Ag event centre Funday on Family Day
manager fired
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Ag event centre manager Chas Lambert has
been fired.
Just two and a half weeks after its annual gen-
eral meeting, the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society
(PAECS) fired Lambert on Feb. 13 without notice or
reason.
Board president Terry Jones was out of the coun-
try so vice-president Sherry Gummow spoke on
behalf of PAECS. She did not provide a reason for fir-
ing Lambert only to confirm he was let go. “We wish
him well in his endeavours and we look forward to
upcoming years of operation at the ag event centre.”
“We respect Mr. Lambert and we’re not prepared
to say anything of a confidential matter,” she added.
It is believed only six of the nine directors were
in the session to fire Lambert; Cec Dykstra, Greg
Bowie, Sherry Gummow, George Verheire, Doug
Gill and Terry Jones. The decision was unanimous.
PAECS vice-president Ex-manager Lambert was disappointed as his
Sherry Gummow goal was to ensure the ag event centre had national
recognition. “And make it the most successful ag
event centre there is in Western Canada.”
He feels better direction from the board could
have made his job easier. “I encourage them to get
that in place before they hire the next manager.”
Policies need to be in place to allow the manager
to have a structure to follow instead of working at
the whim of decisions made on the fly. This would
clarify how management should operate the building,
explained Lambert.
It allows management to answer specific ques-
tions related to PAECS policies so “it’s not held up
by one person’s decision or nine different people
throwing different ideas at you.”
Lambert tried to use experiences that worked
for him at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Man. to
solve the issues to move the ag event centre forward.
“It could be used for national shows and that’s
where I was headed next,” he said. Curler in training: Keira Fenton gets first hand experience at curling from Bill Crawford
Hosting smaller events lets national shows know during Family Day festivities at the curling rink Feb. 18. More photos on page 16 and 17.
the ag event centre can handle the big shows. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Former manager
Chas Lambert Continued on page 31
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