thumb|Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Emergency services

Since late 19th century there is an active volunteer fire department called Ochotnicza Straż Pożarna Poniec as well as old police station used by Policja.

Transport

There is an active train station in Poniec with historical Prussian station building. As well as one Bus route going through town to Leszno

Culture

Dziecięco-Młodzieżowa Orkiestra Dęta przy GCK w Poniecu, wind orchestra composed of volunteer (non-paid) amateur musicians works in town as a part of Municipal Cultural Center (Gminne Centrum Kultury). The orchestra is present during most holidays, e.g. Polish Independence Day or International Firefighters' Day. The orchestra also organizes New Year's Concerts for thousands of people from all over the country every year, inspired by the Vienna New Year's Concerts.

In 2023 the orchestra won the title of Vice-Champion of Poland in Polish Wind Band Championships in Radom.

In addition to the many awards regularly won by the orchestra at national festivals, it is worth mentioning the two greatest International successes.

In 2018 the band won three awards during the International Brass Band Festival in Giulianova, Italy: Best Youth Brass Band, Best Brass Band and Best Conductor of the Festival.

Another important success was participation in Rasteder Musitage in Germany. The band, although initially entered into the basic category, was moved to the advanced group at the jury's request and received very high marks from each of the jurors; out of 100 possible points, the orchestra scored 86.17, which qualified it for the gold medal.

The orchestra was also awarded honorary badge of Merit for Polish Culture (Zasłużony dla Kultury Polskiej) in 2022.

Also since 2018 one of the largest Rally of Historical Reenactment Groups in Greater Poland takes place in Poniec. The annual, several-day event is organized under the name "Operacja Poniec" (Operation Poniec) consists of a parade around the market square, the camp area open to visitors, with dioramas and reenactors' camps located in the City Park, outdoor cinema and historical battle reenactments. Groups taking part in the event recreate soldiers and civilians from every point in history, from the Middle Ages and the Battle of Grunwald, through the Swedish Invasion of Poland, the Napoleonic Wars, World War I and World War II, Cold War conflicts such as Northern Ireland and Vietnam, to modern troops including the German Bundeswehr. The largest one yet was IV Operacja Poniec in 2023 with 36 groups and dozens of reenactors from all over Poland.

Sports

The town's most notable sports club is Piast Poniec with football, volleyball, table tennis and futsal sections.

Notable people

  • Edmund Charaszkiewicz (1895-1975), intelligence officer.
  • Bernard Śliwiński (1883-1941), doctor of law, commander during the Greater Poland uprising, Lieutenant colonel in the Polish Armed Forces infantry, district commander of the state police, Mayor of Bydgoszcz and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari.

References

  • Official Poniec website