Norah Freethy, a 25-year subscriber to the Prince George Citizen, never wins anything but she can't say that any more.
After holding a 17-week contest for subscribers who were automatically entered to have a chance to win a chunk of $10,000 in cash and prizes, the Citizen's 100th anniversary grand prize winner of $7,500 picked up her cheque this week.
"When I got the call, I had to look at the calendar to make sure it wasn't April Fool's because I thought it was a joke," said Freethy.
When she realized it was true, her reaction changed.
"It was like a fairy tale," said Freethy.
Plans for the money include giving a portion to her three daughters and there might be bigger plans for the rest of it.
"I want to do something - we might go on a trip but we have to do something with it," said Freethy about her and her husband Ewen's plans.
"We just haven't decided yet. It's too new."
So it will sit in the bank for a while until plans are made.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary and to thank its subscribers, The Prince George Citizen held the contest offering many prizes, including $100 up to $1,000 just in time for Christmas and then the grand prize that Freethy won.
Each subscriber got one entry into the draw, and then the longer a subscriber had taken the paper, the more chances were automatically entered into the draw, offering better chances to win.
"We wanted to show our appreciation to our loyal subscribers who have been with us for so many years," said Colleen Sparrow, publisher of the Prince George Citizen.
"Congratulations to those who won and especially to Norah Freethy, the grand prize winner."
