The Bluewater Health Foundation's 25th Dream Home Lottery public draw has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The draw will now take place remotely by video teleconferencing on Wednesday, March 25 with social distancing measures in place.
Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said the decision was made on the advice of Canadian health authorities and in conjunction with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Dream Home Lottery auditors.
"In response to the current situation that we are facing, we felt it was in the best interest of our patients, our physicians and our staff that we continue to social distance from the hospital," said Alexander. "Also we thought it was important to still do the draw because we think that people deserve some good news during this difficult time."
Alexander said a comprehensive list of winners will be published following the draw by 11 a.m. on the Dream Home website and the Foundation’s social media channels. Winners will be notified directly following the draws with further information.
The foundation thanks all who purchased a ticket or volunteered their time to make the lottery the most successful to date.
Alexander said a record 14,639 tickets were sold and the first-ever 50/50 draw is worth around $89,000.
This is also the first year there are two homes up for grabs. The 2nd prize home at 304 Sunset Crt. in Petrolia is valued at over $540,000 while the grand prize home at 564 Franco Ave. in Sarnia is valued at over $668,000.
Over the last 24 years, the lottery has raised over $7 million for Bluewater Health.
-With files from Dave Dentinger