The Brentwood Recovery Home has already provided John Ross and Janice Gourley with things more valuable than anything money can buy, so the cash prizes they took home in Wednesday night’s Brentwood Lottery draw were just gravy.
“It feels nice,” said Ross, 56, of LaSalle, who has been through the substance abuse program at Brentwood a number of times over the past 23 years.
John Ross raises his arms after being announced a winner of $250 during the live draw of Brentwood Lottery at Brentwood Recovery Home on Dougall Avenue Jan. 9, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful place and it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing that they’re doing.”
Ross, who won $250, was among about 600 people who gathered in the main hall of the Father Paul Charbonneau Centre on Dougall Avenue for the old-fashioned drum barrel ticket draw for cash, three cars, a $5,000 vacation and a new home in Belle River.
Ross bought a number of tickets for family members and decided to keep one for himself.
“I didn’t really care if I won anything or not,” said Ross, an electrician.
“They saved my life a couple of times. It paid for my Christmas tickets, so that’s pretty good.”
London native Janice Gourley first went through the program in 1991 and found herself back there last March. On Wednesday night she took home $1,000 on her 56th birthday.
“I think I’m still in shock,” said Gourley, who has since relocated to Windsor and works in a local psychologist’s office.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won anything, and because it’s my birthday that’s even better.”
Gourley also volunteers at the home.
“I came through here the first time in 1991 and I went back to London and had really really good years and I just came back again in March,” said Gourley.
“It’s the best thing I ever did. It’s an amazing place. Amazing people. I’ve been a ticket buyer every year. I like to support it. It’s a wonderful, wonderful bunch of people.”
Brentwood executive director Dan Soulliere said ticket sales this year were in excess of 23,000, a little off last year, but the home should still raise about $300,000 through the lottery towards it $2 million annual budget.
“It’s substantial,” said Soulliere.
“This is our main fundraiser so this has been going on 21 years now. It’s a lot of fun. A lot of people are here, a lot of people that are not associated with us that are just here to watch the draw, and it’s a lot of fun.”
A full list of winners will appear in Saturday’s Windsor Star and will be available online at brentwoodlottery.com.
