Skip to content

Anouka caught the 29K Ace (11 photos)

The Esquire Club's 'Catch the Ace' charity event for Big Brothers Big Sisters finished with local woman, Anouka Corbeil, winning $29,172.50

Anouka Corbeil of Sault Ste. Marie is now $29,172.50 richer after she 'caught the ace' at the Esquire Club’s Catch the Ace fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sault Ste. Marie.

“I’m mostly going to save and invest it,” said the mother of two, who was shaking and could hardly hold the cheque that was written out to her on the spot.

Hundreds — the club estimates around 600 but the number was possibly higher — began lining up at quarter to four until the 9:30 p.m. drawing.

Club co-owner and manager Domenica Braido said at one point the line went all the way along Second Line West to the Rexall pharmacy, 400 meters away.

The event sold out of tickets hours before it started.

The Esquire Club's Catch the Ace started in January and has had weekly Thursday night raffle draws where the winning ticket receives 20 per cent of the night's ticket sales.

50 per cent of the night's money is donated to Big Brothers and Big Sisters while the remaining 30 per cent went into the progressive pot.

Each raffle winner also got a chance to win the progressive pot by trying to select the Ace of Spades from what starts off as 52 envelopes on the wall.

Each week the Ace isn't picked, the progressive pot got bigger.

About a month ago, the Club decided that Thursday was going to be the last night of the draw which meant that, even if the raffle winner didn’t catch the ace they would keep drawing names and offering people a chance.

Thursday night’s raffle winner was Carol Wishman who won $2,277 dollars.

Wishman said she's going to use the money to go to Jamaica.

After Wishman did not catch the ace 13 others attempted until Corbeil — on the 44th attempt — got the lucky pick.

The event raised $45,058 for Big Brothers Big Sisters, an amount greatly appreciated said Executive Director Rebecca Bolton.

Bolton said that because the group recently stopped receiving regular monthly funding from the United Way, they are reliant on charity events like this now more than ever.

Local enrollment in Big Brothers Big Sisters went up 23 per cent since they moved into the Boston Avenue Community Hub in April said Bolton.

Braido said the club plans to hold Catch the Ace events with bigger prizes.


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.




Jeff Klassen

About the Author: Jeff Klassen

Jeff Klassen is a SooToday staff reporter who is always looking for an interesting story
Read more