Lively man becomes Greater Sudbury's newest millionaire with HSN draw win
Health Sciences North Foundation in Sudbury is guaranteeing some big prizes in its December 50-50 cash lottery draw.
A man from the Greater Sudbury community of Lively has won $1,169,522, the jackpot in December's 50/50 draw in support of Health Sciences North (HSN).
Bill Lynn
Bill Lynn from the Greater Sudbury community of Lively has won $1,169,522, the jackpot in December's 50/50 draw in support of Health Sciences North. (Supplied)
The winner is Bill Lynn.
'You're kidding,' said Lynn, when Anthony Keating, the president of the HSN Foundation called to tell him about his win.
'You just gave me a head rush there – I almost passed out.'
Though the call started with Lynn describing himself as cranky, but joy could be heard in his voice after Keating told him how much he had won.
'My, my, my,' he said with a sigh.
'I am kind of baffled here.'
Lynn was definitely in shock.
'It blows my mind, though,' he said.
'I'm just waiting to wake up and realize that this is a dream.'
Lynn told Keating that he buys $100 worth of tickets for the 50/50 every month and that he did not think his odds of winning were very good.
'HSN saved my life a couple of times so it's not hard for me to put a few bucks every month to a good cause,' he said in a news release.
When asked what he was going to spend the money on, Lynn said his youngest daughter had recently bought a house and he intends to pay it off.
'I'm looking forward to spoiling the grandkids a little and maybe spoiling myself a bit, but this kind of money can make a big difference for my family down the road, too,' he said.
'It's exciting to think about, even if I still think I'm dreaming.'
When accepting the check from the HSN Foundation, Lynn said he thought he was going to cry.
'This December has been an incredible month,' said Keating.
'We just gave somebody $1,169,522 – But it has also been a great 2023. You've made a big difference in the health care of people living in northeastern Ontario.'
Since its inception, the HSN Foundation's 50/50 draw has given away more than $23 Million to winners all over Ontario.
Funds raised will make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer, how the tiniest patients receive specialized pediatric care and ensuring equipment is in place when needed to provide quality patient care.
'Because of you, we are able to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, invest in more research and plan for future capital development,' said Keating.
'It is because of you that we are making a bigger difference in health care for people living here in northeastern Ontario.'
The January HSN 50/50 draw is live at www.hsn5050.ca and the jackpot is already more than $37,500. Click here for more information.
Tickets for the January draw are available to purchase right now, with sales ending at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 25. The jackpot-winning ticket will be drawn on Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.
For more information on the HSN Foundation's 50/50 draws and the work they do, visit their social media page.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
ETFs are outpacing mutual funds despite market volatility. Are rookie retail investors at risk?
Canadian investors are putting more of their money into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to recent data, even as the U.S.-led trade war rocks global stock markets, and some experts say rookie retail investors are at higher risk. Net sales of exchange-traded funds — a basket of stocks that can be bought and sold throughout the trading day — are outpacing those of mutual funds in Canada, especially among retail investors, according to a CIBC report published earlier this month. Mutual funds, which are sturdier investment products that have more embedded fees and fewer tax advantages, still make up a larger portion of Canadian investment portfolios. They're usually actively managed by a professional and are exposed to fewer intraday market swings because they're traded once per day after market close. Yet ETFs have grown at three times the rate of their older cousins in the last five years, signalling a shift in how both retail investors and professionals are approaching their investment strategies. Sales for both dropped dramatically in 2022, at the onset of the inflation crisis. "People have been disappointed with [mutual fund] performance for a long time, and historically, most people have had more investments in mutual funds than in ETFs," said Dan Hallett, a Windsor, Ont.,-based vice president of research for Highview Financial Group. "More people are paying attention to the costs that are embedded in their investments and the ETF structure is generally a lower-cost vehicle than a mutual fund, particularly on the retail side," he said. "But it's also happening at the advisory level." In fact, ETF assets (the value of all the equities and cash held in the funds) reached an all-time high of $518 billion in 2024, a report from the Investment Funds Institute of Canada shows. Those assets have ballooned by nearly seven times in the last decade. Retail investors are contributing heavily to that growth, both reports say, as more people opt to take their investments into their own hands rather than pay a professional financial adviser the fees to manage their portfolios. But there are concerns about risk. South Korea, worried about rookie retail investors who are buying exchange-traded products (including ETFs) by leveraging debt, has introduced a one-hour mandated training for those who manage their own investments. Impact on investor outcomes In the U.S., investment management company Vanguard's VOO has become one of the world's best-selling ETFs by bundling the highest performing stocks from the S&P 500 index. The company's own risk scale, which measures the likelihood of losing money on an investment, puts the VOO at a risk level of four out of five, for products that are "broadly diversified but are subject to wide fluctuations in share prices." It recommends it for long-term investors. Sal D'Angelo, the head of product at Vanguard Canada, says there are a few reasons why ETF uptake has grown substantially in the last several years. Both retail investors and professional portfolio managers are moving to lower-cost options; There's more interest in indexing, which is a passive investment strategy that matches an index's best-performing stocks, rather than trying to beat the index's growth; and there are more retail investors buying ETFs in general. WATCH | What the bond market selloff means: How the U.S. bond market made Trump blink | About That 1 month ago Duration 8:42 Vanguard Canada's version of the S&P 500 ETF is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the VFV ticker. It boasted an annual return of 35.24 per cent last year and 23.3 per cent in 2023. This year, in the wake of a tariff-induced roller-coaster market environment, the ETF is showing a year-to-date loss of -3.07 per cent. D'Angelo argues that ETFs work well in these conditions because of their flexibility. "ETFs as a vehicle, I think, work really well in volatile markets because they have that immediate liquidity if you do want to trade," he said. Others say that the influx of investors buying ETFs under volatile market conditions poses some concerns. "It's concerning to me in terms of the impact on investor outcomes," said Hallett. He thinks the same factors that left some investors disappointed in mutual funds could eventually afflict ETFs, too. "When you have investors that are trying to build a portfolio and they're bombarded with almost a dizzying array of choices, only the most disciplined and knowledgeable investors will benefit from that and can easily sift through it," he said. "Everybody else is going to get very distracted," Hallett said, "and that's where you end up with a disappointing performance." Massive jump in April The data comes as a new generation of investors have game-ified day trading, buying and sell stocks at the drop of a hat from their phones and tablets. Automated tools — which let investors set trading parameters that are then executed by a bot, like selling a stock when it hits a certain price — are also seeing more frequent use. Tradeweb, a company which operates marketplaces for traders, saw an 83 per cent jump in the number of retail investors using automated tools to make trades in April compared to the same month a year earlier. "Something we haven't seen so prolifically in previous periods of market volatility is an increase in clients turning to automation," wrote Adam Gould, the global head of equities at Tradeweb. "However, in April, we saw investors using automated tools [to] enhance reactivity to a challenging trading landscape with greater speed of execution." Marius Zoican, an associate professor of finance at the University of Calgary, studies the gameification of investing and monitors retail investor behaviour. "If the market goes up five per cent within a day or drops five per cent intraday, and if you are holding ETFs and you are receiving these notifications, it's very tempting to act on them, even though those are about past performance," he said. "Once you're sort of nudged … into this idea that the market is going down, you're likely to just go on your phone and and sell. And that's perhaps not [the] optimal behaviour." He added that during highly volatile times, like the period we're currently in, ETFs can face a liquidity rush if too many people try to sell at the same time. "That might create a divergence between the price of the ETF and the price of the underlying basket," he explained, whereas mutual funds managed by a professional have more guardrails against impulsive investment behaviour. "When there's a lot of volatility, there are always additional risks for retail [investors], for small investors who may act impulsively."
CBC
39 minutes ago
- CBC
1 exam, 50% of final grade. Students say Quebec must follow rest of Canada and change 'unfair' system
Social Sharing As students across the province get ready to write their ministerial exams, the pressure is high – and so are the stakes. Luca Di Fiore, a Grade 11 student, says the final exam feels like a judgment. "It seems unfair almost after everything you do throughout the entire year," he said. "To hear that one test that you do at the end of the year, irrespective of everything you've accomplished throughout the entire year, could just change everything for you [is unfortunate]." Quebec is the only province in Canada where some final exams account for 50 per cent of high school students' final grades. Some teachers and students have been pushing for change and wish to be heard. The province has standardized Grade 10 and 11 exams in French, English, mathematics, history and science – all worth between 25 and 35 per cent of final grades. But some, including history of Quebec and Canada and basic French as a second language, count for 50 per cent. Other Canadian provinces also administer standardized exams, but none are weighted as heavily. Quebec wasn't always the only province placing such emphasis on these exams. Alberta brought its equivalent – Diploma Exams – down to 30 per cent 10 years ago. Di Fiore explained that if students are unable to retain everything they learned during the year, it can make all their hard work feel "pointless" when it all comes down to just three hours. His classmate, Mia Beauchamp, shared that a poor exam result has the power to bring down her mood and her confidence and makes her doubt whether she'll pass the year. "I think it's very stressful because we can't remember it all. Teachers aren't expected to remember it all, why are we?" she asked. She believes the exam's weight should be reduced. Di Fiore proposed replacing the ministerial exam with monthly standardized tests from the ministry. Although he acknowledged the value in maintaining test uniformity to ensure consistent teaching across the province, he emphasized the need to discuss lowering the exam's weight. WATCH | Students, teachers want standardized testing to weigh less: Do ministerial exams count for too much in Quebec high schools? 9 minutes ago Duration 2:59 'Not the way the real world works' Paul Berry, a Grade 10 and 11 mathematics and history teacher at Options High School, is also advocating for a reduction in the final exam's weight. While he sees their importance, he argued they shouldn't hold the level of prominence currently given to them. "[The government treats] these exams like they're sacred texts and like they're the be-all and end-all," he said, adding that the experience is very heavy for many students. "There's nothing really in life where you're going to be facing that type of situation … It's just not the way the real world works." Berry and his colleagues work with many students who struggle with mental health and learning disabilities. He expressed concern over whether these students can effectively demonstrate their knowledge under such pressure. "For the most vulnerable students, it's really them who get hit the hardest," he said. Berry also views the situation as a sign of distrust in teachers, who spend their entire year with their students. "It shows a real lack of appreciation for the work that we do and a lack of concern for the real-life consequences that some of these students will face if they're not able to meet what the government considers to be the standard," he said. Current model limits teachers, some teachers say Michael Wadden, a Grade 10 and 11 history teacher at a high school in Montreal's West Island, remarked that it often feels like teachers are "teaching to an exam." He wishes he had more freedom to engage students through alternative methods – like a mock parliament, debates, analysis and reflection – but says those activities risk cutting into exam preparation time. Wadden argued that the current model limits students' ability to reflect, express their opinions and take a stance – skills he says all teachers would love to encourage them to develop, especially in a course that teaches Canadian and Quebec history. Around this time of year, he starts to see more absenteeism as students realize much of the classroom time will be dedicated to reviewing material they feel they can study on their own. Wadden also pointed out that some of his students are grappling with trauma and issues at home. "To have everything so dependent on one day and three hours is just not fair to these kids," he said. Wadden's colleague, Esther Ste-Marie, a Grade 7 social studies teacher, noted that even though her students don't yet write ministerial exams, teachers are already working hard to prepare them for Grade 10. Still, this year, she's trying something new: prioritizing a project-based approach and critical thinking. "It's been working well, but I still have at the back of my head … my students. They still need to be able to do a formal test because in Grade 10, they'll have to do it like everybody else," she said. Ste-Marie pointed out that this reality ties teachers to the responsibility of preparing students for ministerial exams. "The ministry is asking us to create those students ready for the 21st century skills to make them lifelong learners, to make them critical thinkers, but yet they're limiting us," she said. "We want them to think outside the box, but we're not allowing them to think outside the box." How Alberta's exam reform benefited students Jason Schilling, the president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, explained that the province's decision to make final exams worth 30 per cent instead of 50 significantly relieved pressure on students. "It also allowed me as a teacher to assess my students in a variety of different ways that would show what the students know more than necessarily sitting down and doing their reading comprehension in a written test in such a high stakes kind of moment," he said. "When it's not weighted as much or if it's not weighted at all, it does allow you flexibility to be more creative." Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville stated last week that he is not considering any changes. "Fifty per cent to ensure equality, to ensure that we can compare results from one school to the next, from one region to the next," he told reporters. But Di Fiore, while understanding Drainville's perspective, disagrees. "If we're talking about equality, if everybody's at 30 [per cent], that's still equality, right?" asked Di Fiore. "And why are students getting pressure put on them if the thing that we're attempting to evaluate with these [exams] is the school systems?" Di Fiore believes those affected by the current system deserve a voice in the decision. "If you're a doctor, you talk to your patient about what they're feeling," he said. "I think everybody should be involved in that conversation so we can get all perspectives." WATCH | Learn more about Quebec's plan to ban cellphones in schools: Full cellphone ban part of new 'civility' rules in Quebec schools 1 month ago Duration 2:43 New regulations will prohibit students in public and private schools from using electronic devices on school property as of September 2025. Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville hopes the regulation will lead to better concentration and socialization between students. The rules also set requirements for how students address teachers and staff.
CBC
40 minutes ago
- CBC
Meet the 11 candidates vying to succeed George Darouze in Osgoode
Social Sharing Better roads. More police. Giving rural wards like Osgoode a stronger voice at city council. These are some of the goals of the 11 people vying to be Ottawa's next Ward 20 councillor. The seat became vacant after George Darouze was elected as Carleton's MPP. Residents will vote on his replacement on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, or in advance on June 6. To help electors understand who the candidates are and what they stand for, we asked all 11 to complete a questionnaire, and most of them responded. You can learn more about the candidates and what they had to say by reading their questionnaire responses below. You can also skip directly to the candidate you want to hear from by following these links: The election comes over a year before the city's next general election on Oct. 26, 2026. For more information about where and how to vote, visit the city's election page. Candidates CBC Ottawa sent a detailed questionnaire to Osgoode candidates and all but one responded. Candidates were also asked to submit photos of themselves. Where candidates have websites or campaign pages on social media, those links can be accessed by clicking on the candidate's name. Road maintenance, plus policing and emergency presence are among Boone's top priorities for the ward. here. Gulati cites the creation a local business association as one of his top priorities, and also wants to make the Tewin development a "win-win situation" for residents and developers. Read his questionnaire answers in full here. Dalton Holloway Holloway says it's important that Osgoode has the right infrastructure. He also wants to make sure the rural voice is "amplified." here. Colette Lacroix-Velthuis Ensuring the city executes on the area's core services, community safety, and emergency services "that we deserve" are among Lacroix-Velthuis's priorities. here. Dan O'Brien O'Brien says he wants improved road conditions in the ward — and more police to discourage speeding and other illegal activity. here. Isabelle Skalski Priorities for Skalski start with roads: better maintenance, addressing a lack of paved shoulders and expanding key routes. here. Doug Thompson Thompson also counts a lack of sufficient policing as a concern, and he's also advocating for road upgrades. here. Gregory Vail Vail is intent on joining forces with Ottawa's four other rural councillors to strength their collective voice, and working closely with community groups. here. Jennifer van Koughnett "My platform is what I like to call the Ts; traffic: trails, and transparency," van Koughnett writes. Arnold Vaughan Peter Westaway Westaway is intensely focused on rethinking Ottawa's Greenbelt, and believes the ward should concern itself more with what is going on in the city as a whole.
