'That's amazing': Brentwood Dream Home Lottery awards prizes

Brentwood Dream Home Lottery called winners on Saturday to let them know that they won a variety of cash and other prizes. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

“Are you kidding? “exclaimed Gloria Freeman as she learned she and her husband Gordon are now $60,000 richer.

The Freemans were among the seven Brentwood Dream Home Lottery grand prize winners who received a call Saturday morning.

“We’ve been donating to Brentwood for many, many, many, many years and have never even won one of the smaller prizes,” Freeman said. “So you’re just shocking me.”

The 33rd annual lottery, held by Brentwood Recovery Home, revealed the winners of all 21 grand prizes, which had a combined value of more than $1.2 million.

The top prize was a three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house in Amherstburg’s Brittany’s Gate development built by NOR-Built Construction.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” David Taylor said over the phone stunned to learn he had won a new home.

A room full of people sat on hand to cheer as phone calls were made to each winner.

Paul McCann, the director of fund development and community engagement at Brentwood Recovery Home, said awarding the grand prize is often the best part of his job.

“It's always a great part of the job to call people live and get their reaction. We had some great reactions today,” he said.

The lottery began in October and ran until the end of December. During this cycle, McCann said they set a record for daily sales.

“So one thing that we do know right now is that we set a daily sales record of over $100,000, and I believe that that is a first for the lottery and its 33-year history,” he said.

Calculating the funds raised from the lottery will likely take a few more weeks, organizers said. Similar to years past, McCann said they are expecting a small decrease in overall sales.

“It's a tough economic climate that we're all in, and people are having a hard time making ends meet and so you never know how sales are going to be,” McCann said.

“We're projecting that this year's sales [are] probably going to be a little bit less than what we did last year. Last year, we did over $1.8 million in sales, but we don't have any final numbers yet.”

One of Ontario’s longest-running home lotteries, this year Brentwood handed out 80 prizes, including early bird draws.

Funds raised in the lottery play a significant role in Brentwood’s ability to provide services.

Brentwood Recovery Home Executive Director Elizabeth Dulmage said the program makes up for a ‘real significant shortfall’ in what the government funds.

“So it actually goes to helping us pay the operational bills that keep the lights on and the food on the table and make it possible for people to be here on program, as well as all of those aftercare supports that we provide,” Dulmage said.

Without the fundraising efforts, Dulmage said they could not manage based on the amount of government funding they receive.

Dulmage noted their reliance on donors and the community as a whole is what makes the prize announcements satisfying.

“You heard some of the people acknowledge that they've been buying our tickets for years, and they really support the work that we do here at Brentwood,” Dulmage said.

“They really recognize how important it is, so it's just incredibly validating, and then so, so fun to listen and see people's reactions when they've won a wonderful prize.”

With the announcements made, Brentwood will now proceed with the verification process for each winner before awarding the prizes.