2016 Dream House Lottery winner John Thorpe is pictured in this photo from Facebook.
Image Credit: John Thorpe via Facebook
July 07, 2016 - 4:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - All it takes is one ticket.
For Brocklehurst resident John Thorpe that one ticket has made him a new homeowner. He’s the grand prize winner in the Kamloops YMCA-YWCA Dream Home Lottery with a new home in Westsyde.
“I’m still in shock,” he says. “I’m super excited, just trying to process it all.”
The 48-year-old Telus warehouse worker and local musician is still catching up to the new reality. While he isn’t certain what he’ll do with the house yet, he favours selling it for a couple of reasons.
“I’m a single guy with a large dog,” he says. “In my current situation it’s not super practical.”
While the house is quite large, the small yard wouldn’t be ideal for his German Shepard-Collie cross. If he does sell, he’s looking at investing and travel.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Puka Pukara and Machu Pichu and other ancient sites,” he says.
Right now, though, he’s still responding to all his well wishers.
“My Facebook page has been lit right up,” he says. “I’m trying to make sure I touch base with everyone.”
There was a bit of strategy in Thorpe’s win. He says he doesn’t like the big lotto draws because of the low odds. While the Dream Home Lottery ticket was a splurge, it had much better odds. He’s also won a few 50/50 draws with good payouts.
The Kamloops YMCA-YWCA expects to raise around $200,000 through this year's fundraiser, CEO Colin Reid says. The lottery, which has gone on for more than 20 years, is the organization's largest fundraiser.
After tickets sold out much faster than expected this year, Reid says the organization may consider more tickets next year. There were 11,000 tickets sold this year with 327 prizes.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
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