April 11, 2023
The last time Garry Smith won a prize in St. Boniface Hospital’s annual Mega Million Choices Lottery, he got a nice pair of binoculars. This year, Smith became Manitoba’s newest millionaire.
Smith was not alone in his good fortune as many others raked in cash and prizes after the lottery’s main draws. Among them was a group of 22 co-workers from a local software company, winners of almost $708,500, which was their share of the 50/50 PLUS jackpot.
The lottery program supports patient care and medical research at the Hospital. Smith, a retired entrepreneur from Winnipeg, had bought a St. Boniface lottery ticket each year “for many, many years”, he said, without much luck.
His luck changed dramatically on the morning of March 23, when Foundation President and CEO Karen Fowler and Lottery Chair Tom De Nardi called to let him know he was the grand prize winner.
They offered him a choice between one of several dream home packages or $1.25 million, tax-free. Smith wondered if he was being scammed. “Are you guys being honest with me?” he remembered asking them.
After Fowler and De Nardi convinced him that the call was legitimate, he went for the $1.25 million. “I did not need a new house,” he reasoned.
Plenty of plans for 50/50 PLUS winnings
Meanwhile, a trip to Disney World, a basement renovation, and a Clear Lake cottage and boat rental this summer are among the plans for the 50/50 PLUS winners.
With most of the group working remotely, instant messages were flying back and forth on learning they held the winning ticket.
A visit to the Foundation office to receive their winnings was a great chance for the co-workers to catch up in person, said group member John Frommelt. He added that the 50/50 PLUS win was timely; he was off the next day for a long-planned trip to Japan.
Jessica Hiebert, whose name was on the winning ticket on behalf of the group, was all smiles as she held an oversized cheque for photos. St. Boniface Hospital holds a warm place in her heart because it’s where her two children were born, she said.
Smith, the grand prize winner, was looking forward to cashing the $1.25 million cheque he picked up at the Foundation offices on March 29. “They might roll out the red carpet for me at my bank branch,” he joked.
While he has no plans to make any big purchases yet, he was going to celebrate with his family in Winnipeg. “We’ll have a bash, yeah,” he said. “I’m very sure they will each get a share.”
Thank you for supporting the 2023 Mega Million Choices Lottery! Continue to show you care. Donate to St. Boniface today.