THUNDER BAY – Rolando Duran of Leamington, Ont. got the surprise of his life on Friday morning.
At 11 a.m., he took a call from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation president and CEO Glenn Craig, who promptly told him he was the winner of the May 2025 Thunder Bay 50/50 draw, earning him the $1,829,222 grand prize.
“I’m having a good day, but I think you’re going to have a better day that I am. You bought a $20 ticket – that $20 ticket has turned into $1,829,222.
A stunned Duran, who is a personal support worker who works In nursing homes, said he’s been playing the Thunder Bay 50/50 since last year, when he first heard about it.
His immediate plans?
“I’m going to buy a house and help my family back home in the Philippines.”
The Foundation has awarded more than $67 million in prizes since launching the lottery in January 2021.
They have made 21 consecutive millionaires, dating back to September 2023. This month’s jackpot was the ninth largest in the 52-draw history of the Thunder Bay 50/50.
Tickets for the June draw are on sale now, with $98,000 in early bird draws up for grabs, including a $25,000 draw on June 6 and a June 13 draw worth $13,000 in honour of Friday the 13th.
Tickets are available at www.thunderbay5050.ca.
Ticket sales close at 11:59 p.m. on June 26, with the draw slated for June 27 at 11 a. m.
