Living & Breathing the Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw
Published Monday, December 30, 2024
Torin Gunnell (Centre) with Tessa and Eric Armiento on their wedding day, one of the many couples he's worked with as a wedding videographer.
Meet Torin Gunnell, Lotteries Manager at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
Torin Gunnell is an expert at raising community awareness through video. Although he went to Lakehead University for accounting, videography/marketing has always been his passion. As a freelance filmmaker, Torin used his storytelling skills to create a 2019 documentary about the Thunder Bay Conservatory. That video helped drum up 7,000 signatures for the petition to save the Conservatory from demolition.
Not only is Torin still proud of that video (as he should be!), the documentary helped him secure the Digital Engagement Assistant position at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
“I was able to show during my interview how I enacted real social change through this one video,” Torin said. “It was exactly the kind of visual storytelling they were looking for.”
The Health Sciences Foundation launched the Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw two weeks after Torin started. He helped grow the Draw through social media and digital marketing, and today, it has become the biggest hospital 50/50 in Canada. Working alongside the Digital Engagement Coordinator, Torin introduced a number of new ways to highlight and promote the Draw in those early days such as the “Call Videos” featuring Hospital Foundation CEO Glenn Craig calling the Grand Prize winner to give them the good news, and the “Impact Videos” that show ticket buyers how they are making a real difference at the Hospital.
“I'm constantly thinking about how to make the Draw better and grow the program as much as we can,” he said. What Torin is most proud of, however, is that it is a 100% “in-house” lottery. The Health Sciences Foundation created the Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw from the ground up and continues to manage its marketing and operations to this day.
“I think some people have the perception that we have a big Toronto firm managing the whole lottery. They're surprised when I tell them that no, it's all us.”
As Thunder Bay 50/50 grew, so did the team – and Torin's involvement. He went from Digital Engagement Assistant to Digital Engagement Officer to Digital Engagement Coordinator, and is now the Foundation's Manager of Lotteries, all within four years.
“I live and breathe the Thunder Bay 50/50,” Torin said. “A big part of the job is staying in touch with the community and listening to what everyone wants. Many of the initiatives we launched such as increasing the number of Early Bird Prizes and adding bonus numbers on all ticket packages for this year's December 50/50 came directly from community input.”
What excites Torin most is seeing the direct connection between the work they do and the people it impacts. “The Thunder Bay 50/50 has been the highlight of my professional career. When I see what we've accomplished, improving healthcare for everybody – that's a good feeling. Fundraising for the Hospital helps us bring more healthcare services to Northwestern Ontario so fewer people have to travel outside of the region. It's all about closer-to-home care.”
Outside of the office, Torin channels his passion for storytelling into his highly successful wedding videography business. He's also dedicated to training for his first marathon, embracing the challenge and discipline it brings. Torin also treasures time with his loved ones—he and his girlfriend, Laurisa, have been together for five years and enjoy creating lasting memories with their families and friends.