The winner of the 2021 CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery is ….
An Ottawa family is kicking off 2022 by winning the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery.
"Oh my god, it's stunning," said Carly Coldham, walking into the Minto Dream Home with her husband Mark and two children.
The CHEO Foundation announced ticket number 013613, held by Mark Coldham, won the grand prize package worth over $3.1 million in the annual lottery to support CHEO.
"I’m speechless, blown away," says Carly Coldham."Never in my wildest imagination could I have even thought we would get that call today. I thought it was somebody scheduling a delivery looking for Mark, but at first I think I thought it was a bit of a scam at first and than was overcome with joy."
The grand prize includes the Minto Dream Home fully furnished by La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, bi-weekly cleaning for one year from ATC Cleaning, $100,000 in cash, a 2021 four-door LTD Hybrid Explorer 4WD from Donnelly Ford Lincoln Ltd., a $5,000 gift card from Farm Boy, moving services from Adam's Moving and legal services from Mann Lawyers.
"You think of the odds, you think it’s going to charity and that’s all that matters," says Mark Coldham, adding the couple buys tickets each year. “This year we were thinking do we want to buy one ticket or three and Carly said lets get three. It goes to charity and we’ve used CHEO with the kids a bunch of times."
When it comes to keeping the home, the Coldham family have plenty to think about, but say that after walking through the house, it would be hard to turn away.
"It’s stunning, the layout is incredible, the furniture inside it really is a dream home," says Carly.
"It lives up to the tagline that’s for sure," adds Mark.
Meantime, Rosalee Gravelle of Russell, Ont. is the winner of the 50/50 draw jackpot, which climbed to a record $2,867,625. Gravelle wins $1.4 million.
Ticket holders can check their tickets online at www.dreamofalifetime.ca as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6. All winners will receive a confirmation letter from MNP LLP within two weeks detailing how to claim their prize.
Money raised through the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery and the 50/50 draw support pediatric healthcare and research at CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute and Roger Neilson House.
Dan Champagne, vice-president of development and corporate relations with the CHEO Foundation, says there has been a sharp increase in mental health issues among children.
"There is somewhere in the order of a 400 per cent increase in traffic to our emergency departments because of COVID with children and our youth so this money allows us to put it where it’s needed the most right away," said Champagne.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.