Newcomer to Calgary wins Stampede dream home
‘I can’t believe it’ says winner
After moving from Toronto to Calgary a month ago, it looks as if John Gaminde will soon be moving again — into the Rotary Dream Home.
Gaminde won the top prize of the 2013 Stampede Lotteries, worth $750,045, on Wednesday evening.
“Oh my God, thank you very much,” were the first words out of Gaminde’s mouth when the Stampede’s president Bob Thompson called to give him the good news.
Soon after, elated cries from Gaminde’s wife were audible in the background as she, too, real- ized what happened. “I’m blown away,” Gaminde said, laughing. “I can’t believe it.”
Gaminde said he was planning to fly back to Toronto soon to collect the rest of his belongings, and now he has somewhere new to put them all. “It’s a big help,” he said. Gaminde’s winning ticket was drawn from more than one million sold for the Dream Home, said Stampede Lotteries committee chairwoman Pam Fawcett.
Though they didn’t top sales from last year’s centennial celebration, Fawcett said ticket sales for the 2013 lotteries were about a third higher than they were in 2011.
“Sales were really good,” she said. “Where we expected them to be, and actually slightly about where we expected them to be.”
The proceeds from the Stampede Lotteries support the Kinsmen Club of Calgary, the Rotary Club of Calgary South, the Calgary Stampede Foundation and the Calgary Stampede Showband.
The following winning tickets were drawn at the Stampede grounds Wednesday.
Chevrolet Camaro: Bignell Silvera, Calgary.
2014 GMC Sierra: Kolawole Rasheed, Calgary.
Harley-Davidson: Gary Griffin, Calgary.
Truck & Toys: Gabrielle Moss, Fort McMurray.
Boat & Wheels: Fred Andrews, Calgary.
Truck & Fifth Wheel: Cameron Bourque, Galahad, Alta.
Dream Home: John Gaminde, Calgary.
Stampede Split’em 50 Jackpot of $218,052: Jim Braun, Okotoks.