THUNDER BAY — A Matheson, Ont. couple got $2.2 million worth of good news on Friday morning, and all it took was a phone call from Glenn Craig.
Craig, the president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, phoned Gerta Jordaan and her husband, Johan, to tell them they’d won the March 2025 Thunder Bay 50/50 jackpot, a grand prize worth $2,263,732.
It’s the fifth-largest jackpot in the 50-month history of the lottery, which benefits the foundation, which in turns uses the money to improve services at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
The couple had no idea what was about to happen when the phone starting ringing on Friday morning.
“Well, I guess we can have a good party tonight and if there’s anything left, maybe we can pay off the bills,” Johan joked with Craig.
The win might speed up the end of his career in mining a little, he said.
“Maybe retirement, at least maybe earlier,” he said.
Gerta Jordaan said they have been avid supporters of the lottery for some time.
“Everybody talks about it at work. It’s so well known, and everybody I know buys tickets.”
Matheson is located about 50 kilometres east of Timmins.
More than $62 million in prizes have been awarded since the first lucky winner was chosen in February 2021.
March marked the 19th consecutive grand prize topping $1 million.
The Thunder Bay 50/50’s April draw is now live. It will feature 92 early-bird draws, including $65,000 in prizes in the first weekend alone. There will be five $10,000 draws, which include the first two Saturday draw’s in the 50/50’s history.
Tickets are available at www.thunderbay5050.ca and can be purchased until 11:59 p.m. on April 24. The draw is April 25.
