THUNDER BAY — At the current pace that tickets are selling, this month's Thunder Bay 50/50 prize looks likely to gain the title of the largest prize in the draw's history.
As of Tuesday morning, the grand prize for the Dec. 30 draw already stood at over $1,016,000.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation reported that this is the fastest rate at which the jackpot has ever grown.
In December 2021 the jackpot reached an all-time high of $2.3 million, but there are still more than three weeks of ticket sales left for this month's draw.
Proceeds will support the operation of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre's emergency department, one of the busiest in Ontario.
Glenn Craig, the president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, had pondered the possibility of reaching a $2 million or even $3 million grand prize last month when details of the December draw were first revealed.
That announcement included a "guarantee" of a minimum $1 million prize, something that's now in the rear-view mirror.
"We have crossed that mark 12 days sooner than we did last year," Craig said in an interview Tuesday. "We're well ahead ... I think easily north of $2 million. We could be approaching $3 million. I think it's in the cards."
"I think people saw what we did last December. They know that the money is going to a good cause here at the hospital. That appeals to them. Plus the chance of winning a life-changing amount of money."
Craig believes the fact that this month's proceeds will support a three-phase improvement in the emergency department is a significant factor.
"No matter who you are in this community or how healthy you are, either you've brought your kid in here or your parent, you've most likely used the emergency services. People appreciate that, and our desire to make it better."
Hospital CEO Rhonda Crocker Ellacott also said she appreciates the foundation staff and the people of Northwestern Ontario who continue to support the hospital and its frontline healthcare workers through inititiatves such as the 50/50.