Timmins Resident Wins $2.35 Million in Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw

A resident of Timmins, Ontario, has become a multi-millionaire after winning the grand prize in the Thunder Bay 50/50 draw. José Bordeleau received the life-changing news on a phone call from Glenn Craig, CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, revealing that she had won $2,355,290 in the August 2023 draw.

During the call, which took place while Bordeleau was out shopping with her husband, there was a moment of disbelief. Craig prompted her to consider making plans for the weekend, which led to the revelation of her substantial win. “Is it true? Is it legit?” her husband questioned in the background, to which Bordeleau assured him, “They call at 11 — I saw the number.”

Bordeleau expressed her excitement about the win and shared her plans to support her family. With three daughters who recently purchased homes and are preparing for weddings, she sees the prize as a way to assist them during a busy time in their lives. “When you win, you often don’t think of yourself; you think of others,” she remarked.

This victory marks the 24th consecutive month in which a winner has claimed a million-dollar prize from the Thunder Bay 50/50 draw, establishing Bordeleau as the foundation’s seventh multi-millionaire. To date, the Thunder Bay 50/50 program has awarded over $73 million in prizes to players across Ontario.

Bordeleau has been a loyal supporter of the Thunder Bay 50/50 initiative, purchasing tickets for several months. Interestingly, her family has a history of lottery luck; her daughter previously won a Jeep in the Timmins and District Hospital lottery when it first launched.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation continues to support local healthcare initiatives through funds generated by the lottery, further enhancing its positive impact on the community.