THUNDER BAY – A state-of-the-art home worth $535,297 is the top prize in this year’s Fort William Rotary House Lottery.
Organizers officially unveiled the Silverstone Place residence on Thursday and launched the 2017 ticket-sale drive.
The 1,870 sq. ft home features three bedrooms, four-piece main bathroom and ensuite, granite kitchen countertops, hardwood floors, high-efficiency furnace and air conditioning, a deck, a two-vehicle garage and four Energy Star appliances.
Gordie Garriock, chair of media and communications, said only 12,000 tickets will be sold for the draw, which also includes $50,000 in early-bird prizes, drawn weekly between April 19 and June 21.
Like last year, when tickets sold out three weeks in advance of the July 1 draw at Marina Park, Garriock expects this year’s tickets to go quickly too.
The house, built by C. Kelos Homes, is too spectacular not to, she said.
“We’re very excited about it. It’s the first time’s we’ve ever had a walk-out basement. There’s lots of glass down there that expands the living space,” Garriock said.
Over the past 30 years the draw has raised $5 million for local charities, including the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, whose foundation received nearly $135,000 as its part of last year’s draw proceeds.
Other organizations benefiting include the Air Cadets, the Regional Food Distribution Association and the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation.
Garriock said the impact over the years has been tremendous.
“I think it’s huge,” she said. “That’s the feedback we get, of course. We’ve donated over $5 million in the years we’ve been doing it, so that’s a big chunk of money for a small volunteer group to raise,” Garriock said.
Chair Bob Hookham said it’s imperative to help raise money for others.
“There’s so much need in this community, it never goes away,” Hookham said.
“It only gets greater. The Fort William Rotary Club is here to fill that need. We do work with Shelter House and the RFDA and the Boys and Girls Club and the Wilderness Discovery Centre now, along with the hospital and the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre. They all need funds that the government cannot supply. So we’re there to help them out.”
Tickets are $100 apiece or three for $250.
Tickets are available at the house itself or at a number of locations around town, including George’s Market, Halfway Motors, all Thunder Bay RBC branches, Performance Kia, the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital Foundation, Wanson Lumber and Balmoral Park Acura.
They can also be purchased by mail.
Visit www.fwrotary.ca for more information.
