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December’s HSN 50/50 take-home grand prize of $1,041,848 has been won by Dale and Thérèse Ackerland of Verner.

“I was out grabbing a coffee at my brother’s house when my phone rang and I got the news,” said Dale, in a press release. “I was stunned, I think my brother realized I had won before I did!”

“When he got home, he handed me a piece of paper with the jackpot amount on it and said ‘We got a call’,” said Thérèse. “ I never imagined it was something like this.”

The two have been playing the HSN 50/50 since the summer of 2020 and always considered it a way to contribute to a cause they feel is important.

“Whether you win or lose with these 50/50s, it doesn’t really matter because you know where the money is going and that it makes a difference,” said Dale. “Health care is only getting more important, especially as we age.”

You can watch an excerpt of the HSN Foundation’s call to the couple as well as footage from their visit to HSN in this video.

Proceeds of the HSN 50/50 support priority medical equipment purchases, cutting-edge medical research, and the future health care needs of Northeastern Ontario through Health Sciences North Foundation.

Proceeds from the HSN 50/50 have been used to purchase equipment for the Pediatric Step-Up Unit (PSUU) at Health Sciences North.

This specialized unit, located in the NEO Kids and Family Program Pediatric Unit at HSN, is essential for children who require more than standard acute care, but not intensive care.

These young patients often rely on continuous monitoring, breathing support, and around-the-clock attention – care that was only available outside the region before the PSUU was made possible through donor and lottery player support.

“The Pediatric Step-Up Unit has transformed the way we care for children in Northeastern Ontario,” says Dr. Sean Murray, pediatrician at HSN.

“Before it opened, many of our sickest patients had to be transferred hours away to receive the level of care they needed. Now, we can provide that care here, surrounded by their families and support systems. The PSUU has also strengthened our relationship with hospitals like SickKids, allowing our team to benefit from their expertise, training, and ongoing collaboration.

“This not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances our ability to deliver specialized pediatric care in the North. The PSUU exists because of community generosity. Philanthropy has turned an urgent need into a reality, and it’s making a life-changing difference for our patients every day.”

January’s HSN 50/50 is a short and sweet draw that’s encouraging players to put their best foot forward to kick off 2026! This month’s three-week draw features two $15,000 early bird prizes, and a monthly grand prize of half of the ticket sales taking place on Jan. 30.

The jackpot is updated online in real-time and continues to grow as more people buy tickets. Each month, half of the total ticket sales support priority equipment purchases, funding leading edge research, and supporting the future healthcare needs of Sudburians and residents of Northeastern Ontario – the other half goes to one lucky winner.

Residents across Ontario over the age of 18 can purchase tickets for a chance to win. Tickets for the January draw are available to purchase right now, with sales ending at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 29. The grand prize winning ticket will be drawn on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and posted online at www.hsn5050.ca.