Inverness Chase the Ace to spread to three venues
Final card to be drawn October 3 at the latest
Chase the Ace in Inverness will be back Saturday and organizers have come up with a plan to deal with the massive influx of people that will be coming to Inverness.
The game of chance, which involves finding the ace of spades in a deck of playing cards, saw the Inverness jackpot grow from $35 last October to $884,147.76 on Saturday, Sept. 12, the last time the event was held.
With six cards left in the deck, thousands of hopeful winners are expected to head to the Cape Breton town to buy tickets this weekend.
The fundraiser is now so popular, organizers had to take a one-week break to give themselves more time to work with police, emergency crews and government to get things better prepared to ensure public safety.
Third venue added
Organizers announced Monday a third venue has been added to cope with the crowds. Tickets will now be sold at the Broad Cove Concert Grounds at 178 Broad Cove Chapel Road. Previous Chase the Ace events were held at the Inverness legion and the Inverness arena.
Ticket sales this Saturday will run from noon to 5 p.m. at the three venues.
The draw itself will take place at the Inverness Arena, rather than the legion hall.
"This will reduce the pedestrian traffic and congestion on Central Avenue in front of the Legion Hall which has evolved into a serious safety and traffic concern," said a Facebook post by the Inverness branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Big change
If the winner on Saturday does not draw the ace of spades and win the jackpot, the final Chase the Ace draw will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, with draws taking place until a winner is found.
In that case, the first winner would get 20 per cent of the cut and a chance to pick the ace of spades. If that ticketholder is not successful, another ticket would be drawn and the winner would draw for the ace of spades. If they do not draw the ace of spades, a consolation prize of $25,000 will be given out. This process would continue until the ace of spades was drawn.
Should it be necessary to hold a draw that day, ticket sales will be extended to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three venues.
Proceeds of the raffle are going to the Inverness Cottage Workshop, a charity for people with disabilities, and the Inverness chapter of the Royal Canadian Legion. The Cottage Workshop plans to use the money raised for a new facility.
With files from The Canadian Press