Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative

At least 7,000 dreamers buy tickets every Thursday for the Sarnia Legion’s Catch the Ace draw, each hoping they will be the big winner and pocket more than $2 million. But so far all they’ve won are new friends and a day of entertainment while spending hours in line.

“It’s a festive event,” smiles Les Jones, president of Branch 62 and head honcho at the weekly fundraiser. “We’ve got buskers, food trucks and people having a lot of fun while they wait in line.”

Sarnia Legion’s fourth provincially-licensed Catch the Ace progressive raffle lottery is into its 36^th week with a grand prize that’s never been so big.  It’s the most the legion has raised for itself and the charities it supports.

Jones says Catch the Ace has already generated about $1 million for Branch 62 this year and ensured the building on Sarnia’s Front Street will be maintained for at least the next 20 years. There’s lots of money for big-ticket items like fixing the roof and repaving the parking lot.

“I think we’re successful because we don’t sell online and we donate the money to charities within Sarnia-Lambton,” said Jones.  “I think people see that money going to their community and I think that’s why they are so supportive.”

Aside from generating a lot of cash – and weekly winners are now getting well over $100,000 each  – Catch the Ace has become a community builder.

The line-up starts every Thursday by about 7:30 a.m. and eventually winds for blocks through the downtown.

This past Thursday, between 7,000 and 8,000 waited for hours to buy about 131,000 tickets at $5 each.  As the weeks pass, the wait outside has evolved into something of a community party.

Eleven-year-old busker Evren Tukeli of Bright’s Grove was out with his dad for the fourth week to play crowd-pleasers like “If I Had $1,000,000” by the Barenaked Ladies.

“I’ve made some money,” said Evren.  “But I’m mostly here to spread the love of music.  The crowd is so great.”

Krista Porteous was out for the first time as owner of Just-In- Case Medical Services, a Petrolia-based business offering complimentary on-site first aid.

“We’ve had at least three calls for falls that needed bandaging up, and a few others felt unwell,” said Porteous.  “I learned today that people won’t eat or drink before they get in line so they don’t have to use the washroom. I wouldn’t recommend that.”

Nicole McLean and Carolyn Menezes were among the 50 or so volunteers who keep everything running smoothly.  They came with Rebound as “P Spotters” available to take someone’s place in line if they had to use the washroom.

“Hey, if you gotta go, you gotta go,” said McLean. 

“It’s definitely a different kind of job,” said P Spotter Gail Dolby who has volunteered since Week 1.  With three hours still to go before draw time, Dolby was out with the lineup along Christina Street and said she’d already helped out 20 people who needed the port-a-johns.

Why do people start lining up in the early morning when tickets don’t go on sale until noon?

“They get here early and, for some, it’s about socialization,” said Jones. “I get here in the morning and there’s a group with their breakfast sandwiches, chatting and having a good time.”

By any measure, this year’s rendition is bigger and better than ever.  Last year’s Catch the Ace grand prize was about $715,000 won on Week 35. 

“Obviously we’ve far surpassed that,” said Jones.  “I was hoping we’d get to $1 million. Now we’re past $2 million. It’s totally unbelievable.”

There are still 17 envelopes on the Legion’s Catch the Ace board, so arguably the weekly event could continue all summer.

Week 35’s winner was Sherry Weiss, Branch 62’s bartender who won $141,959 and shared with two friends.

Tickets go on sale for Week 36 at noon Thursday, May 21.