Couple wins record-shattering hospital 50-50 draw

A couple from the Greater Sudbury community of Hanmer has won big with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s December 50-50 draw.

Natalie and Clem Bigras of the Greater Sudbury community of Hanmer, Ont., are the grand prize winners of the Thunder Bay hospital December 50-50 draw, taking home a record-breaking $6,436,355. (Supplied/Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation)

The $6.4 million grand prize was drawn Friday morning.

Glenn Craig, president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, got to call the couple at 11 a.m. to let them know they were millionaires now.

Jan. 3 had actually started out as a sad day for winners Natalie Bigras and her husband, Clem.

Before receiving Craig’s call, they had dropped their son off at the Sudbury airport, sending him home to Calgary after their first visit together in six years.

Only moments after that exchange ended, while still processing those emotions, Natalie’s phone rang.

Craig was the calling with news that thousands of people across Ontario were eagerly hoping to get.

A life-changing moment

“I think this is a call that's going to change your lives,” Glenn said to Natalie only moments before revealing the incredible news.

Just after the call began Natalie asked for a moment to get her husband, so he could share in the news of their windfall.

“Stop it, oh my God, I'm shaking like a leaf,” Natalie said sounding as if she were crying.

“So am I,” am I said Craig in response.

Bigras explained her emotion to Glenn, telling him of how they had just dropped their son off at the airport.

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“Being able to tell someone they've just won over $6 million is an indescribable experience,” said Craig.

“Hearing the raw emotion on the other end of the line is something I'll carry with me forever. It's a privilege to be part of such a life-changing moment for someone.”

Craig went on to say it was a life-changing call for him as well.

When asked what inspired her to buy tickets, Natalie and Clem spoke about the impact of the 50-50 fundraisers around the region.

“Seeing what the hospital does with the 50-50 money, it goes back to the hospital. When you live in these rural areas up north, so many people have to go south to get care. Now, they're getting things done there,” they said.

The couple told Craig that this is not the first time they have bought tickets for the Thunder Bay 50-50 draw and that they also support the Health Sciences North 50-50 draw.

The winning ticket number drawn for December's record-shattering $6,436,355 Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation 50-50 draw was X-810553080. (Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation/Facebook)

“In July, I lost my dad and took care of him at home. I've been off work since May to be with him his last three months of his life and I had hospice care at home. I don't regret any of it,” said Natalie.

“I'm so grateful, so overwhelmed. My heart is full today.”

The parents of three said all three kids can count themselves as millionaires.

For Natalie, she said it is one less financial burden to worry about after her recent time away from work.

When asked what the first thing she planned to do as a millionaire, Natalie made her intentions clear.

“We’re going to Thunder Bay,” she said.

“It’s crazy right now. I’m so blown away.”

The entire phone call was shared on the foundation’s YouTube channel and social media pages, the video for which is included above.

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Record breaking prize

The December draw broke expectations – surpassing its $2.5 million grand prize guarantee in less than a week and climbing to an astonishing final total of $6,436,355 – setting a record as the largest hospital 50-50 in all of Canada.

“We’ve changed this person’s life, but it’s also going to change the face of health care, help in so many ways all across the hospital,” said Craig.

“We’re going into our approval process for 2025. We are going to put up a record number for what we give back to the hospital. I’ve used the hospital. We all use the hospital. We’re going to see so many great things happen – we’re all winners.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Thunder Bay hospital’s 50-50 has awarded more than $55 million in prizes while transforming health care in northern Ontario. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation (TBRHSF) uses its share of the proceeds to fund equipment and other hospital needs not covered through government funding. In November, $6.6 million in grants were announced to fund essential equipment upgrades across every area of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

An undated photo of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre's front entrance. (File photo/Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre)

The 50-50 draw has created new millionaires across Ontario every month for the past 16 months, marking an unprecedented run of life-changing wins. Last December, the grand prize payout was $3,983,185 – a milestone now shattered by this year’s December total.

Next month's draw

The January TBRHSF 50-50 draw is live at www.thunderbay5050.ca and the jackpot is already more than $137,500. Click here for more information.

Tickets for the January draw are available to purchase right now, with sales ending at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 30. The jackpot-winning ticket will be drawn on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m.

For more information on the TBRHSF’s 50/50 draws and the work they do, visit their social media page.

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