Chase the Ace fever hits Bay de Verde

A normally quiet town on the Avalon Peninsula will jump to life on Wednesday evening, with the population of Bay de Verde ballooning as hundreds upon hundreds descend on the community for a chance to win some easy money.

The Assumption Parish started a Chase the Ace fundraiser nearly a year ago, on Oct. 7, 2015. Now, there are only seven cards remaining in the pack and folks are flocking to the town for a chance to win the top prize. 

"We never dreamed the jackpot would go up this high. I'd say this week, Wednesday night, it'll be between 180 to 200 thousand, that's with the [consolation] prize and all," said Wayne Walsh, who lives in Bay de Verde and helps organize the fundraiser.

Walsh estimated 1,800 tried their luck last week, with more than 600 vehicles counted leaving town in a trail of disappointment, when the jackpot went unclaimed.

Handling the crowds

With a large crowd expected Wednesday, the challenge is to manage the massive influx of outsiders. 

"It can be trouble, especially with the traffic. So we're trying to get the traffic problem straightened out. We got a few volunteers going around showing traffic where to go," said Walsh. 

"We got signs posted up saying 'Chase the Ace parking' in the harbour, in the community." 

Walsh said folks are showing up from miles around.

"It's incredible. It's a big, big, big event for here. They're coming from all over the area. They're coming from 
St. John's, Pouch Cove, Lamaline... all over the place."

The local convenience store and the town's only restaurant are doing brisk business on Chase the Ace night and so is the gas station in nearby Old Perlican, according to Walsh. 

The real winner? The church

Walsh said the Assumption Parish in Bay de Verde will get a lot of mileage out of this fundraiser: just the money they've raised since the lottery started last October will go a long way to looking after some badly needed repairs to church property.

"We got a nice bit of work to do on our church. Our local hall needs repairs," he said.

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Deep down, Walsh confessed he hopes the jackpot doesn't go on Wednesday, because it would mean more money for the parish.

"I hope it don't go to tell you the truth. I hope it stays for another few weeks.  Because it's only now in the last few weeks, the last five or six weeks, that we're making good money, you know."  

Tickets for the Chase the Ace jackpot are on sale from 2 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday and the winning ticket will be drawn at 9.

It all takes place at the Roman Catholic parish hall in the town.