$125,000 In Thunder Bay 50/50 Early Bird Draws Awarded in One Day! The Largest One-Day Amount Ever
Published Monday, December 8, 2025
Torin Gunnell, Director, Lotteries and Cassandra Carangi, Development Assistant, Lotteries the moment December's Thunder Bay 50/50 crossed $4,000,000.
The Thunder Bay 50/50 team awarded $125,000 in total Early Bird prizes today: the largest one-day amount in the draws history. Winners from across Ontario received calls at 11AM from Foundation President & CEO Glenn Craig, Director of Lotteries Torin Gunnell and Lotteries Development Assistant Cassandra Carangi.
Coincidentally, the December Thunder Bay 50/50 Grand Prize surpassed a staggering take-home amount of $4,000,000 right as the calls concluded. This is the hottest start that any Hospital 50/50 has ever had, anywhere in Canada.
“This is completely unprecedented,” said Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “We thought that the support was overwhelming last year, but somehow our supporters have delivered our Hospital even more in 2025.”
The Early Bird winners were:
- Jordan Pope from Thunder Bay ($50,000)
- Joseph Miranda from Thunder Bay ($10,000)
- Amanda Phonpaseuth from Puslinch ($10,000)
- Emile Azar from Lasalle ($10,000)
- Carolyn Hatton from Kanata ($10,000)
- Mary Clace from Sioux Lookout ($10,000)
- Daniel Anderson from Marathon ($5,000)
- Cynthia Clark from Dunnville ($5,000)
- Kim MacDonald from Wallaceburg ($5,000)
- Mark Weiland from Huntsville ($5,000)
- Miriam Wesley from Attawapiskat ($5,000)
Jordan Pope received the largest Early Bird amount of the day, a massive $50,000 prize to ensure his Christmas shopping goes even “smoother” this year.
“It's going to be a good Christmas vacation coming up,” said Jordan. “We're booked to go to Los Angeles soon and having some extra spending money will certainly make the trip even more exciting”.
There are still $300,000 in Secondary Prizes up for grabs in December, $250,000 of those are designated Holiday Bonus draws, taking place after Christmas.
“We've listened to your feedback and made some changes this year,” said Glenn Craig. “Half of our Secondary Prizes take place after Christmas, so many people buy tickets as a gift during December; we thought we'd make it even more exciting with tons of chances to win and BIG prizes; including one for $100,000 on December 31st.”
** Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 1st, 2026 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, January 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca
Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years of age old or older. The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues each month with the Grand Prize drawn on the last Friday of the month. (2025 Lottery Licence RAF1500864)