Sarnia residents, and Santa, line up to ‘Chase the Ace’ in $1.6M local lottery

Hundreds of people are hoping to win the $1.6 million Catch the Ace jackpot fundraiser for the Sarnia Legion. CTV London’s Sean Irvine reports.

The best way to measure the excitement surrounding a $1.6 million jackpot in Sarnia was to take a walk.

On multiple downtown streets on Thursday, hopeful participants formed lines, firmly believing they were about to strike it rich by entering the ‘Chase the Ace’ lottery draw, operated by Branch #62 of The Royal Canadian Legion.

“I’ve been manifesting this for 64 years. You know, I feel it. I feel it!” said Gary McNickle to a CTV News camera as he waited for his turn.

Some individuals even lined up hours before the noon hour opening, which gave them plenty of time to dream about how they’d spend the money if they won.

“Go on trips,” said Miriam Fach, who dreams of seeing Greece.

But some, like Claudette McKay, only laughed when asked where she would disappear to, agreeing she’d really been laughing if she won the jackpot.

Many in line expressed plans to retire, including Sandy McLennan, who was displaying an Ace on his T-shirt, “Well, I’d help out a pile of people and causes too, but I’d start enjoying life more.”

To win the ‘Chase the Ace’, you must first pick a number from a board of cards and enter your name in a draw.

The weekly prize is given to the draw winner. Last week, the total exceeded $114,000.

The lucky ticket holder also picks from the board to try and ‘Catch the Ace’.

“We rip it open if it contains the ace of spades from a deck of cards, then they win the whole progressive pot,” said Les Jones, Branch #62 president.

While the winner takes the huge prize, Jones explained that the once struggling Legion earns money to fix its building, help veterans, and support local charities.

“Well, we’ll have about $1 million or more to give away to the community. And we’ll have close to a million to assist with projects within our branch,” said Jones.

Last year’s winner took home about $700,000.

The bigger jackpot this year attracted the first in line to arrive at 1:30 a.m.

Believe it or not, his name is ‘Ace’ (Concordia).

It turns out he also professionally portrays Santa Claus each Christmas, which might explain his generosity.

“Definitely. I’ll be giving lots of money to lots of people,” he said when asked his plans if he won the jackpot, later adding — we believe in jest — that he also would be heading for “The North Pole.”

The Chase the Ace lottery drawing will continue weekly until the Ace is found, which means well over a dozen weeks could remain.