Ponoka, Alberta

Home to Canada's premier cattle auction and site of one of western Canada's largest professional rodeos, Ponoka is at the heart of Alberta's frontier. The town is also in the middle of a booming region. Jobs in the petrochemical and oil-and-gas industries abound, as businesses and people take advantage of the area's affordable lifestyle.

Albertans take pride in the fact that they have low taxes – there's no sales tax and gas taxes are the lowest in Canada – while maintaining good public services. But there's much more to Ponoka than an attractive cost of living. The area bustles with an array of community events. In late June, the town hosts more than 60,000 fans at the Ponoka Stampede (the aforementioned rodeo). After that, the town celebrates its agricultural heritage at the Ponoka County Fair in August. And, homemade baked goods and preserves are always easy to find at the weekly Farmers' Market.

It doesn't take a special event to keep busy, though. The area offers superb cross-country skiing trails, excellent hiking along the Diamond Willow Trail System and two golf courses, the Ponoka Community Golf Course and Wolf Creek Golf Course. For indoor recreation, the Ponoka Aquaplex provides excellent swimming facilities, classes, and competitions.

It may not be as wild as it once was, but the area has managed to preserve its Wild West days with the Boomtown Trail. The trail highlights the unique architecture of Alberta's early days when towns literally sprang up overnight. Early settlers built homes and buildings with stately fronts while leaving the back more modest. Take a trip through the trail to visit the restored buildings. You'll also find activities such as golfing and extreme sports such as skydiving and paintball.

Excellent job opportunities, good services, and a friendly community atmosphere give Ponoka a top rating when it comes to quality of life. Calgary and Edmonton are just an easy drive away for some big-city action. And, oh, should I mention it again? There's no sales tax!

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