Thunder Bay 50/50 Reflects on a Record-Breaking Winter
Published Monday, March 24, 2025
December 2024 Grand Prize winners, Natalie and Clem Bigras of Hanmer, Ontario, with their record-breaking $6,436,355 cheque.
With spring in the air, the Thunder Bay 50/50 is reflecting on an unforgettable winter of creating millionaires, awarding record-breaking prizes, and changing lives across Ontario.
The December draw was a true testament to how life can change in an instant. On January 3rd, Natalie and Clem Bigras of Hanmer, Ontario, received a call that they would never forget. They had won $6,436,355, the largest prize in Thunder Bay 50/50 history and the biggest hospital 50/50 payout in all of Canada.
Overcome with emotion, Natalie and Clem could hardly believe what they were hearing. “Oh my God, I'm shaking like a leaf,” Natalie said through tears when Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, shared the unbelievable news.
Just moments before, the couple had said goodbye to their son at the airport as he returned to Calgary after six years apart. “We have a brand new grandson,” Natalie shared, emphasizing how much this win would mean for their growing family and how often they could now visit.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Natalie expressed just how much this moment meant to them. “Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this is changing our life.”
When asked what moved them to buy tickets, Natalie and Clem spoke about the impact of the 50/50 funds. “Seeing what the hospital does with the money, that's why we buy,” Natalie explained.
But, Natalie and Clem weren't the only ones to start 2025 with an incredible win. Just a few weeks later, on January 31st, Lucie Clifford of Timmins received her own life-changing call. She was the winner of a $1,868,445 Grand Prize. Lucie, a retired teacher who still supply teaches to support her community, was left completely speechless when Glenn Craig shared the news.
Lucie has been supporting the Thunder Bay 50/50 since the very beginning, knowing her ticket purchases were helping to improve health care across Northwestern Ontario. But this time, the lottery gave back to her. "Now, this is really helping me out," she laughed, grateful that her long-time support had come full circle.
February's 50/50 draw was all about spreading the love, and Leanne Miller of Gorham felt it in a big way. On February 28th, Leanne was out for lunch with a friend and her newborn when she got the call from Glenn, telling her that she had just won $1,752,315. “Am I the winner? I'm losing my mind right now!” she exclaimed in disbelief.
When asked how she planned to use her winnings, Leanne shared “we're building onto our tiny home for our growing family, and it will help pay off the mortgage and build this new addition.”
A loyal supporter of the Thunder Bay 50/50 for years, Leanne buys tickets knowing it helps local health care. “Even if I don't win, I love supporting the hospital” she said.
As we step into spring, the Thunder Bay 50/50 continues to break records, with March on track to be one of our biggest months yet outside of December! The incredible stories of Natalie, Lucie, and Leanne remind us that this lottery is about more than just winning, it's about changing lives.
Every ticket purchased not only gives you a chance at the incredible prizes but also helps fund vital medical equipment, ensuring better care, closer to home, for Northwestern Ontario.
Learn more about the Thunder Bay 50/50 at www.thunderbay5050.ca