Sudbury woman initially hangs up on $468K lottery win

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Sudbury's Turcottes claim November's $468K HSN 50/50 prize

Sudbury family learns they won $468K in HSN 50/50

HSN 50/50 supports future medical needs of northeastern Ont.

HSN 50/50 supports medical research in northern Ont.

HSN 50/50 supports equipment purchases for the hospital's state-of-the-art simulation lab

A Sudbury woman nearly missed the news of a lifetime after repeatedly hanging up on calls from the Health Sciences North Foundation on Friday, which was trying to inform her she had won more than $468,000.

Jen Turcotte and her family were announced as the winners of the November HSN 50/50 grand prize, but foundation representatives had difficulty reaching her.

“I must have hung up on them five times, I was like ‘I don’t know you, I’m not picking up,’” said Jen.

Her reluctance was captured in a video of the winning call and subsequent check pickup released by the foundation.

“Unacceptable. I want to give you money to go on a shopping spree. Unacceptable,” said Shane Gordon, the manager of lottery and websites for the HSN Foundation, after an initial call went unanswered.

Turcotte decided to call a family member for advice.

“I have a family member who works at HSN, who I called, and she said that today was the draw day and you’ve gotta call them back! And I’m so glad I did!” said Jen.

When she finally connected, the foundation delivered the news that she had won $486,158.

“We just won $486,000,” a voice can be heard exclaiming during the call recording.

Brother convinced win was a prank

After learning of her win, Jen immediately called her brother, Derryck Turcotte, to share the news. He was initially skeptical.

“I was at work when Jen called, saying we won the HSN 50/50, and I was sure it was a prank until her voice cracked when she was talking about how much the prize was. That’s when I knew that there was actually something up,” Derryck Turcotte is quoted as saying in a news release.

During a chat with foundation representatives at their office in the hospital on Ramsey Lake Road, the family began brainstorming how to spend the windfall, with one suggesting upgrading an upcoming trip.

“We’re also going to Mexico in a week. So, I don’t know,” said Derryck.

“We’re changing it to first class tickets … Yeah, we’re going to upgrade. Probably some upgrading excursions, maybe go to like, you know, the fancy side of the resort.”

50/50 draw supports hospital equipment, families

The foundation’s 50/50 fundraiser supports healthcare services at Health Sciences North, with half the proceeds going to the winner and the other half funding hospital care.

The HSN 50/50 lottery supports “priority medical equipment purchases, cutting-edge medical research and the future healthcare needs of northeastern Ontario through Health Sciences North Foundation,” the release said.

The foundation said proceeds have been used to purchase items like infant incubators for HSN’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Because of donors and the Health Sciences North Foundation, our tiniest patients can get world-class care right here in Sudbury, close to their families. That kind of impact is immeasurable,” said HSN’s clinical manager for its NICU, Jennifer Natti.

Since its launch in 2020, the HSN 50/50 has raised over $62 million, with $31 million awarded to winners and $21.7 million reinvested into patient care, research, and facility upgrades at Health Sciences North.

Funds from ticket purchases support:

• specialized surgeries and procedures,
• enhanced care for neonatal patients,
• cancer research and treatment improvements,
• future capital redevelopment projects, and
• under Ontario’s lottery regulations, none of the proceeds go toward administrative salaries.

The lottery’s real-time updated jackpot continues to grow with each ticket sold, offering another chance for a life-changing win while supporting healthcare in northeastern Ontario.

Next month’s draw

The December HSN 50/50 draw is live at HSN5050.ca and the jackpot is a guaranteed $1 million and the draw has already raised more than $250,000. Click here for more information.

Tickets for the December draw are available to purchase right now, with sales ending at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 8. The jackpot-winning ticket will be drawn on Jan. 9 at 10 a.m.

“December has arrived, bringing the Holiday spirit with it, and we’re excited to help kick things off with the biggest early bird prize pool of the year,” said the foundation in a social media post, adding this month’s 50/50 participants can win up to $120,000 in early bird prizes – including a brand new car or $40,000 in cash in the six draws leading up to the jackpot.

The vehicle up for grabs is a 2026 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Edition, which will be drawn for on Jan. 2.

HSN 50/50 lottery tickets can be purchased online, at the lottery kiosk at HSN on Ramsey Lake Road or at 27 retail locations in Greater Sudbury or at a special dedicated HSN 50/50 storefront in the New Sudbury Centre until Jan. 8.

For more information on the HSN Foundation’s 50/50 draws and the work they do, visit their social media page.

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