Since October, the Oxbow and District Recreation Board has hosted a virtual Chase the Ace draw on their Facebook page every Wednesday evening.
Due to the abundance of community participation, the current jackpot sits at $26,259.
The Mercury spoke to Tami Scott, an active member of the recreation board, about how the success of this modified 50/50 draw has been achieved.
Chase the Ace is a fundraiser that has gained popularity across the country.
In the case of Oxbow’s benefit, each week 20 per cent of ticket sales go to a weekly draw winner, 30 per cent to the ace jackpot, and 50 per cent to the recreation board. The weekly winner then draws from a deck of cards. If they draw the ace of spades, they will win the jackpot.
If the ace of spades is not drawn before June 16th, an exciting draw will occur until the Ace is drawn.
The recreation board hosts this event to raise funds for the five facilities it is responsible for in Oxbow: the community rink, the swimming pool, the memorial hall, the Ralph Allen Memorial Museum and Bow Valley Park.
“This fundraising will assist us in helping out those facilities when big expenses come down the pipe,” Scott explained.
Among other expenses, these funds will contribute to paying off the debt of the new swimming pool and will help cover the projected cost of a new hall, which the recreation board says they would like to construct within the next seven or eight years.
Initially, Chase the Ace was a social event at the hall, but it has shifted entirely online since the pandemic hit.
“People have always had the ability to buy tickets through e-transfers, but last year, when all the facilities shut down because of COVID, our e-transfers really took off.”
Scott feels this success results from both the sense of community the event creates and the increasing chance to win big.
“This year, we’ve been pleased that it’s continued with that momentum, and of course, as the pot gets bigger, more and more people are interested in purchasing, but we’re also really pleased with the level of community support and the end result being that our recreational facilities will gain.”
Each card drawn is eliminated from the deck, gradually increasing the odds. There are still 25 cards left in the deck, and the jackpot is growing by roughly $2,000-$3,000 each week.
Scott spoke about the increasing participation from not only people in Oxbow but also Carnduff, Carlyle, Estevan, Kenosee, Regina and other areas in the province.
“We’re very, very grateful to the community and to the ticket purchasers for participating and wish good luck to everybody who purchases.”
Additionally, Scott expressed how grateful she is for the dedication of the recreation board and everyone else who has volunteered their time to facilitate this fundraiser.
She credits Lian Heiser, the finance officer of the event, and board members Richard Lamontagne, Starr Mercer, Andrew Sinclair, Cal Rosenthal, Sydney Mellom, Ray Wright, Rachelle Kitz, Mark Barnes and Mark Kosior for the success.
The weekly draw livestream and updates on the jackpot total can be found on the Oxbow and District Recreation Board Facebook page.
For a chance to win, purchase tickets for $10 each through e-transfer to oxbowchasetheace@outlook.com, or in-person at the Affinity Credit Union Oxbow branch or the Oxbow Town Office.
