MANITOUWADGE, Ont. -- A Manitouwadge man was on his way home from Thunder Bay when his phone rang.
Little did he know it would change his life.
After answering, Jerry Pilon learned he had won $836,560, the top prize in this month's Thunder Bay 50/50 draw. He almost turned around to head back to Thunder Bay, but did continue his journey home after getting the great news.
"My very first priority will be to ay off all my debt and set up for my retirement, which will be a lot sooner now," he said, in a release issued by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
It was the sixth straight month the draw has topped $800,000, after only reaching the milestone three times in the previous 24 draws.
The draw to date has seen more than $25 million in prizes awarded to winners across the province, while millions more has been used to purchase vital new equipment for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
"A huge thank you to all who sent in photos of their dogs (and cats) for our fun Dog Days August draw. Overall we received about 1,400 photos," said Glenn Craig, president and CEO at the health sciences centre.
"We are truly grateful for our 50/50 supporters because their support is helping us do more faster for better local healthcare, now."
The September draw is now open and will feature $30,000 in early bird prizes, including a $10,000 draw being held on Sept. 1.
The grand prize will be drawn for on Sept. 29.
Tickets are available at www.thunderbay5050.ca.