Renfrew Hospital's Catch the Ace lottery down to four cards
The elusive ace of spades remains on the run in the Renfrew Victoria Hospital Foundation's Catch The Ace lottery.
Heading into Thursday, the local lottery contest was on week 48, and players were flooding into Dahl's Convenience to play.
"Ninety per cent of the ones that are coming in, they're coming in for Chase the Ace," says Louise Dahl, of Dahl's Coin Laundry and Coffee Shop. "Normally on Thursday we'll sell 1,000 tickets, just on Thursday alone."
By mid-afternoon Dahl's had sold well over 2,500 tickets before the 6:00 p.m. draw that day. With ticket sales climbing every week, Thursday's weekly prize was $28,713, with a total jackpot of $554,957.
To support the hospital, half of every ticket sold goes back to the hospital. This round of Catch The Ace, proceeds are being put towards the emergency department at the Renfrew Victoria Hospital, which hasn't seen a major renovation since 2001.
"Through the pandemic it's exemplified the need to do some essential upgrades in there," says Patti Dillabough, Executive Director of the hospital's foundation. "$2.50 of your ticket is going right back into your community health care. So it's a win-win for everyone."
Many locals who play the Catch The Ace lottery say they feel more optimistic of winning, rather than playing lotteries like Lotto Max or Lotto 6/49.
"All the numbers that I liked are gone," said Catch The Ace hopeful Pat Wilson, who chose envelopes 16 and 47 this week. When asked what she would do if the money if she won the jackpot, "Ah! Probably buy a house."
For those looking to win the grand prize, Dahl's is the place to purchase the ticket, with signs up for each of the previous winners buying from their convenience store.
"We've got seven of them up," says Dahl.
On Thursday night's draw, it was the nine of spades, pulled from envelope 47, meaning the elusive ace of spades remains out there for the jackpot to grow for at least another week.
"That's the community we live in," says Dillabough. "They're so supportive of our community hospital."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.