When you come through the mountains and cell phone reception returns it’s not usually good news when a flurry of texts and voicemails comes in. Dave Ogreysik knew something good happened though when he began seeing congratulatory messages flood his phone.
Ogreysik was the big winner Thursday at the grand prize draw for the Rotary Dream Home Lottery. He says they had to pull over to the side of the road to take it all in.
“When I got the text messages yesterday I was like, this is too elaborate for a joke from my friends. I’ve have 12 texts in like 30 seconds.”
Ogreysik says he will share the home with his girlfriend Martina and three boys. He says the boys weren’t there when he bought the ticket but him and Martina loved the space right away.
“We just talked and we didn’t pick that house apart one bit. You know, normally you’re like well I don’t really like this about a certain place but we absolutely loved every feature of this house this year.”
Ogreysik says he does plan to keep working but is looking forward to living the mortgage free life.
The funds raised by the Dream Home Lottery go to support a variety of local community initiatives. Rotary President Dave McRae says much of it will go to supporting Wellness House.
“It will be like a respite house for out of town families if they’ve got people at the new hospital. We’re anticipating that opening in about two to three years.”
McRae says they also spread the dollars out among the community. They fund requests from as small as a couple hundred dollars to a couple hundred thousand.
It is being hailed as the most successful dream home so far. Lotto Manager Kevin Hilgers says they will be using a new builder for the 2019 home but didn’t name them.
“Top secret. Top secret. We cannot let that out of the bag. Not quite yet!”
The other big winner of the evening was Jane Hunter Uhryn of Grande Prairie who took home $275,000 as the winner of the 50-50 draw.
