Linda Weeres of Sarnia has been announced as this year's grand prize winner of Bluewater Health Foundation’s Dream Home Lottery.
The lottery's grand finale was celebrated on Thursday and live streamed over social media.
Weeres now has the option of accepting a fully furnished $1.2 million dream home or $900,000 cash.
The bungalow was built by SGC Modern Homes and designed by Bayview Design Group and is located near a private beach in the Blue Coast Heights neighbourhood of Plympton-Wyoming.
The foundation said Weeres and her husband, Al, stopped by the home Thursday afternoon to mull over their big decision.
A Facebook post from the foundation said the couple were at a restaurant when they received the exciting news.
"[Weeres] said she burst into tears in the middle of the restaurant and had to tell the server why she was crying, and that it had nothing to do with her husband," read the Facebook post. "She said that for years she has been telling her friends and family that one day she would win the Dream Home - and now she has!"
Three other major prize winners were announced on Thursday as well.
Gwen Rogers of Sarnia was named the 50/50 prize winner of nearly $324,000. Ed Page of Sarnia won the $10,000 prize and Guy Taylor of Sarnia won $5,000.
“Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets in support of the Dream Home Lottery, and thank you to all of our incredible sponsors for helping to once again make this year’s Dream Home Lottery a huge success,” said Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander. “We are thrilled to see this lottery continuously grow thanks to the support of our exceptionally generous community here in Sarnia-Lambton."
Money raised through the 2024 campaign will support the redevelopment of Bluewater Health's cancer care clinic. Proceeds will be equally split between the Bluewater Health Foundation and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital Foundation.
This year's campaign featured the largest prize board in its history, with over 10,000 prizes valued at $1.7 million.
"As we've indicated a couple of times, next year is a big one, 30 years of Dream Home Lottery so be sure to stay in the loop," said Alexander.
Winning ticket numbers for other prizes will be posted on the foundation's website.