The winner of this year’s Alberni District Fall Fair raffle is planning to donate a portion of her winnings back to the fair organizers.
Meaghan Dolan bought 16 tickets for the $30,000 raffle and was surprised when her name was drawn on Sunday, Sept. 12.
“I never win anything,” she said. “This is so exciting.”
Dolan says she plans to donate $5,000 back to the Fall Fair Association. She doesn’t know yet what she’ll do with the rest of her winnings.
“We just know it’s been rough for you guys with COVID,” Dolan told fair organizers on Monday afternoon when she received her cheque.
Dolan, who is born and raised in Port Alberni, says she buys tickets for the raffle every year.
“Even if we can’t make it to the fair, we always want to make sure we’re supporting it in some way,” she said.
Although the 2021 fair was smaller than previous years—with no parade—people were still able to enjoy the midway and other entertainment in a reduced capacity last weekend.
According to Ann Siddall, Alberni District Fall Fair administrator, the attendance for the fair this year was 9,766 people.
“Right on our targets keeping within our 50 percent capacity,” said Siddall.
Mitch Gardner of the Fall Fair’s board of directors said that, despite a slow start, the tickets for the $30,000 raffle were “almost sold out” by the end of the fair.
“Thank you to everybody for helping us make our goal,” he said on Sunday.
The Kinsmen also had a 50/50 raffle that reached a total of $3,827. The winner was Laurie Lacharite.
To see the winners of this year’s virtual home arts show, visit www.myfair.ca.