‘I’m so excited’: Lifelong renter wins PNE prize home, becomes first-time homeowner

There were some tears and lots of smiles as the winner of the PNE prize home got to see inside her new house for the first time Wednesday.

She’s never owned her own home, always living in a basement suite.

But for Delta’s Tracy Jackson, that’s all about to change.

Jackson is the winner of the PNE’s (Pacific National Exhibition) $2.5-million prize home, and on Wednesday, she had her first look inside.

“Wow. That’s all I can say is wow,” said an emotional Jackson as she arrived at the Langley house she will move to in October with her partner, Frank Kiss.

“I never win anything. Nothing, nothing, nothing,” the B.C. woman said, still in disbelief at her turn of good fortune after 20 years of buying tickets for the PNE prize home.

“I never expected it because my life doesn’t work that way, right? My life has never worked this way. And now it’s working that way and I’m just so grateful,” an emotional Jackson said.

The 57-year-old former dispatcher had to leave her job in 2019 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I went on disability because my hand shakes so much,” she explained, adding that winning the home has given her new hope.

“I’m so excited, so very excited,” she said. “I was so afraid of what the future had because of the way life is. I’m not anymore.”

Jackson marvelled at each room in the home, including the kitchen.

“I’ve never had a dishwasher,” she said.

Shauna Wilton, the PNE’s vice-president of event operations, was at the home to hand Jackson the keys.

“It’s such a thrill for us to be able to watch Tracy see the home for the first time and really understand the impact it has on her as an individual. I can tell you there’s not a dry eye in this house right now behind me as we’re listening to Tracy also tell her story,” said Wilton.

She said the PNE has been doing a prize home for more than 90 years.

This year’s home was built by Miracon Developments with interior design by Brown & Co. It comes fully furnished by Yaletown Interiors. The house features three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. It has a legal two-bedroom suite.

The 3,292-square-foot house also has a library, whiskey tasting room and two-car garage.