The race for the 2013 Kinsmen Dream home has officially begun with ticket sales going online last week.
The grand public opening of the home, located in the new Vanier Woods neighbourhood at 220 Vancouver Cres., will take place on Oct. 19.
The sleek and modern house, built by Larkaun Homes, is estimated to be worth $890,000.
Tickets are the same price as last year: one for $100 or three for $250.
“All of the money we raise from the lottery stays in our community. We’re not run by a marketing company as some of the other lotteries are; it’s all done by volunteers,” said Len Sisco, Kinsmen Dream Home chair.
“The money goes to a lot of different agencies like the Red Cross, the food bank, the women’s shelter, the hospice society and the youth and volunteer centre. I could go on.”
Just over 14,000 tickets have been printed.
The event also seeks to support what Sisco calls “invisible charities,” as “we can’t always see where the money goes because it’s not going into bricks and mortar like building an arena but it’s helping them do what they need to do.”
Tickets are only available online at the moment but will be for sale at the dream home after its grand opening and at various Servus Credit Union locations as well as at Sproule’s Mountview IDA on 43rd Avenue in Red Deer.
Other prizes include a 2013 Nissan Titan SL truck, a trip for four to Puerto Vallarta from Calgary, a hot tub, massage chairs and a barbecue.
There will also be a 50/50 draw this year with a minimum payout of $30,000 and maximum of $75,000.
The 50/50 tickets costs are: one for $10, five for $25 and 16 for $50.
The public can purchase 50/50 tickets separately, without purchasing a dream home ticket and vice versa, Sisco said.
Ticket lines shut down at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Both draws will take place later that evening.
To purchase tickets, visit www.reddeerkinsmen.com/dreamhome.
rfrancoeur@www.reddeeradvocate.com