Alban man wins more than $500,000 in HSN's 50/50 draw

An Alban man has won $506,320, the jackpot in November's 50/50 draw in support of Health Sciences North (HSN).
The winner is Bruce Lavallee.
“I was so sure it was a scam, I darn near hung up," Lavallee said in a news release.
"It took 10 minutes of talking before I started to realize that I might have actually won."
“I have a lot of history with the hospital in Sudbury. Going back over 30 years, I had surgery to remove five brain tumours just before the Cancer Centre opened," added Lavallee.
"Thinking back to that, it’s really something that I’m standing here now with a big cheque.”
When asked about how he would spend the jackpot Lavallee was still in shock.
“I’m just going to go home and talk to my advisor – this just doesn’t feel real.”
“Bruce’s reaction to the phone call this morning was so incredible,” said president and chief development officer of the foundations and volunteer groups at HSN, Anthony Keating.
“It was great to hear his excitement and absolute disbelief.”
The December HSN 50/50 draw is live at www.hsn5050.ca and the jackpot is already more than $100,000. Click here for more information.
Funds raised will make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer, how the tiniest patients receive specialized pediatric care and ensuring equipment is in place when needed to provide quality patient care.
“December is going to be a big month with big cash prizes throughout,” added Keating.
“The earlier you buy the more chances to win great cash prizes. This month is going to be something to talk about! This has the potential to be our biggest jackpot ever.”
December will have an additional $100,000 in cash draws throughout the month, including two $25,000 draws, two $5,000 draws and four $10,000 draws.
Tickets for the December draw are available to purchase right now, with sales ending at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 29. The jackpot-winning ticket will be drawn Dec. 30 at 10 a.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada summons Chinese ambassador over high-altitude surveillance balloon
Canada announced that it had called China's ambassador onto the carpet as Ottawa and Washington expressed their disapproval Friday over a high-altitude balloon found to have been hovering over sensitive sites in the United States.

Liberals withdraw controversial amendment to guns bill
The federal Liberals are withdrawing an amendment to their guns bill that introduced a controversial new definition of an assault-style weapon. The amendment would have defined what kind of firearms should be banned in Canada and added dozens of new semi-automatic rifles and shotguns to the list.
Canadian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Medicago Inc. shutting down
Medicago Inc., the Quebec-based drug manufacturer of a Canadian COVID-19 vaccine and other plant-based drugs, is being shut down by parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Group.
China: Balloon over U.S. skies is for research, wind pushed it
China said Friday that a balloon spotted over American airspace was used for weather research and was blown off course, despite U.S. suspicion it was spying. The discovery further strained already tense relations between Beijing and Washington.
Federal department fires 49 employees for claiming CERB while employed
A federal government department has fired 49 employees who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit while they were employed.
BREAKING | First-year university student from northern Ontario wins $48M in lottery, making history
Canada's newest millionaire, an 18-year-old university freshman from northern Ontario, has achieved a lot of firsts with a recent lottery win. Here is her story.
'Bobi is special': Portuguese pooch breaks record for oldest living dog ever
A Portuguese dog named Bobi has been named the world’s oldest living dog by Guinness World Records, which claims the pooch is also the oldest canine ever recorded.
Airlines ask Supreme Court to hear case on passenger bill of rights
A group of airlines is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their case after a lower court largely upheld the validity of Canada's air passenger bill of rights.
Prominent Quebecers plead for federal anti-Islamophobia rep to be given a chance
A letter of support signed by 30 prominent Quebecers, including academics, activists, and community leaders, is asking that Amira Elghawaby be given the chance to fulfil her mandate as Canada's first special representative on combating Islamophobia.