A big payday could be in the cards for one lucky person.
The Orillia branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is bringing back its Catch the Ace fundraiser.
The top prize could reach $50,000 this year, as tickets are able to be sold at locations other than the legion. That’s because the legion has obtained a licence from the City of Orillia rather than the province.
“This should increase the sales,” said Orillia legion president Rick Purcell.
Each of the 52 cards from a deck is placed in an envelope with a number on it. Participants pay $5 to draw a ticket. Every week, a card will be drawn. The winning ticket holder, if his or her card is drawn, will receive 20 per cent of the total weekly sales.
The draw will continue weekly until the ace of spades is pulled. A maximum of $50,000 could be won.
Thirty per cent of total weekly sales will go toward the progressive jackpot, while 50 per cent will go to the legion.
“This is a large fundraiser that the community can be involved in,” Purcell said, noting the money raised for the legion will go toward its various programs and services. “The legion is probably the largest service club in Canada and our mandate is veterans, youth and community events. The money we make on Nevada (tickets), bingo and Catch the Ace goes back into the community.”
Catch the Ace is a win-win-win, he added.
“There’s a weekly winner, a jackpot winner, and the community and legion are winners,” he said.
If this year’s fundraiser is successful enough, the legion might look at obtaining a licence from the province again for the next one. While that licence includes restrictions on where the tickets can be sold, it allows for a potential jackpot of $1 million.
Last year's jackpot winner received $4,799.
Tickets can be purchased at the legion, CC Fashions, Friendly Fermentor, the Legion Complex, Manticore Books and Rocky’s Barber Shop.
The first draw will take place Sept. 21. Draws will take place every Friday at 6 p.m. at the legion.
For more information, call the legion at 705-325-8442 or check out its Catch the Ace Facebook page.
