Kamloops man wins 2016 ‘Y’ Dream Home

Jul 6, 2016 | 5:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — The keys have been handed over and a Kamloops man is now laying eyes on the inside of his brand new home. 

John Thorpe bought a ticket for this year’s ‘Y’ Dream Home Lottery, when he heard the odds were good. 

Turns out he was right, and is now the lucky winner of the Westsyde luxury home. Thorpe’s name was drawn from a barrel of 11,000 others. 

While he wasn’t there when his name was pulled, he was excited to receive the news, and will take some time to decide whether he’ll move into the house, or sell.

EXTRA: Full winner list, click here

It was the very moment thousands were eagerly anticipating. Today, the lucky winner of the 2016 ‘Y’ Dream Home Lottery, was chosen.
    
John Thorpe is the proud new owner of this luxurious home set in a quaint Westsyde neighbourhood. His ticket, one of 11,000 thousand sold. The 48 year old Kamloops man is still in shock his name was drawn.

“Just super excited, I’m glad I participated in it because I’ve never really won anything that big before, I’ve won 50/50 draws and played the lottery lots over the years but never come close, and holy mackerel here I am with a home,” says John Thorpe. 
    
Valued at over $636,000, this 3 floor, 4 bedroom open-concept home on Hayward Place, is breathtaking. A rustic modern look, with big windows and enhanced natural light, built to a platinum, eco-level standard. It’s a home that resonated with a lot of people, making the lottery a complete sell-out. 

“Best odds that we’ve ever been able to offer, that was probably another reason the lottery went as well as it did, with all of the bonus prizes this year, you had a chance of 1 in 34 of winning something,” says Bryce Herman, ‘Y’ Dream Home Lottery Spokesperson.

At $100 a piece, proceeds from the ‘Y’ Dream Home go directly to the YMCA/YWCA, which serves 17,000 people every year.

“It is our largest fundraiser and continues to be our largest fundraiser, this year we’ll net over $200,000 that helps the ‘Y’ in many many ways,” says Colin Reid, CEO of Kamloops YMCA/YWCA.
    
The lottery is critical to the Kamloops agency, providing much needed funding to help programs vital to both women and children. Programs that allow kids that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, to play and grow in a safe and healthy environent.

“Everything from children who are there in child minding services, youth programming, summer camp, Camp Deka, even though they pay fees, fees don’t cover the full cost to run the program, some money from dream home goes to support those programs.”
    
“Over the 20 years this should push us slightly over $3 million that’s been raised through this lottery here in Kamloops, and every dollar raised stays right here in our community,” says Herman.

The attention to detail in the 2016 ‘Y’ Dream Home is significant. But what takes this property to the next level is the master bedroom and ensuit, featuring a deluxe his and hers walk-in closet with a wet-bar inside. A unique feature John Thorpe is sure to enjoy, now that he calls this place home.

“I am kind of thinking of moving in and sitting on it for a year, but we’ll see, I’m still in shock and really don’t know what I’m going to do at this point, I’m definitely thinking I’ll have to have a party there, I play in a band too, so I might have to make a band room downstairs,” says Thorpe. 

In total, 327 prizes were up for grabs this year, for a full list of winners click here