THUNDER BAY – Lottery fever has hit Thunder Bay.
On Friday, the Friends of Chippewa Park were the latest to join the popular prize phenomenon, launching a weekly Catch the Chippewa Ace draw in order to help fund the park’s planned five-day 100th anniversary Family Festival, tentatively scheduled to run between July 29 and Aug. 2.
The festival, which could be postponed until 2022 should public health measures not allow for gatherings, will include fireworks and entertainment throughout the civic holiday weekend.
It’s the second Catch the Ace contest launched in Thunder Bay this year, but organizer Iain Angus said it looks like there’s room for everyone at this time.
“There are a number of traditional lotteries in play and a number of new lotteries in play. Some are 50-50, some are the catch the ace, some are the traditional win and RV (type), like the St. John Ambulance runs every year,” Angus said.
“There’s no question that there’s competition out there, but I think that we’ve found that with our 50-50 draw last fall, where we were a new entry, that being a new kid on the block did not hurt us. We raised a decent amount of money toward the festival and we think that there’s more than enough room in the region.”
At first glance, Angus appears to be spot on.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has awarded 50/50 jackpots totalling $1.6 million in February and March, and is on pace for a $1-million draw in April, with $238,000 raised in its first week. The Fort William Rotary House Lottery is 91 per cent sold out, with 14,500 tickets sold in less than a month. The United Way of Thunder Bay recently launched its version of Catch the Ace, with its first weekly prize standing at more than $1,500 and a guaranteed jackpot of $5,000. And HAGI TV Bingo cards routinely sell out each week within hours.
Angus said 50 per cent of the proceeds from the Chippewa Park draw, minus expenses, will be put toward the festival fund. Twenty per cent of sales will be put toward the weekly draw, while the remaining 30 per cent will be used to build up the progressive jackpot.
Ticket buyers can purchase tickets starting at 20 numbers for $10, with 100 numbers going for $20, 300 for $50 and 500 for $80. Each purchase also includes a chance to select one of 52 virtual envelopes, each with a different playing card inside. After each weekly draw the winner’s envelope is opened. If it contains the ace of spades, they win the progressive jackpot too. If not, it continues to grow, for up to 52 weeks.
“We’ve got a target of about $150,000 through lotteries and we’re only at $11,000 so far, so we’ve got a long way to go,” Angus said.
“I think people are looking for different ways to entertain themselves, certainly looking at different ways they can contribute to charitable causes. I was amazed at the first round for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Foundation and the amount that they raised.”
Tickets are available at www.chippewapark.ca/catchtheace.
