Strathmore Legion presented with $10,000 through Chase the Ace program

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 Legion Executive was recently presented with a cheque for $10,000, following the most recent conclusion of their Chase the Ace activity. 

Chase the Ace is a fundraiser which encourages folks in attendance to purchase draw tickets which give them a chance each week to win 20 per cent of the ticket profit pot, as well as a chance for each week’s draw winner to play for the cumulative jackpot. 

The game goes on each week until somebody draws the ace of spades card, at which point, the prizes will be distributed and the game will be reset. 

“We are grateful for the continued support of Legion members and the larger community for their participation in our weekly fundraiser, ‘Chase the Ace,’ which contributes to operations of the branch,” said Donovan Arnaud, branch president of the Strathmore Legion. 

According to Edith Stephenson, Chase the Ace coordinator, the weekly fundraiser started in November 2018, marking this year as the fifth since its inception. Since then, Chase the Ace has raised nearly $40,000 to support branch operations and sustainability. 

“Chase the Ace is a fundraiser for us to bring in money for the legion because running that building these days is tremendously expensive with the utilities and the insurance and the upkeep and everything,” she said. “People come into the legion for a two-hour period on Friday evenings; they come in, might have something to eat, drink, they might buy Chase the Ace tickets; we also have other fundraisers going on, on Friday evenings as well.”

Stephenson added attendance for Chase the Ace tends to vary tremendously, as more people tend to show up as the jackpot grows. 

For each iteration of the game, the Legion must acquire a new license from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) in order to host Chase the Ace, as it technically qualifies as a gambling activity. 

“We have had three or four smaller winners, but then we have had three $6,000 winners, and one $3,000 winner,” explained Stephenson. 

On one occasion, she added, a draw winner pulled the Ace of Spades for the jackpot on the first night of the new game. 

Stephenson explained the impact towards the operations of the legion building from Chase the Ace are tremendous, and the team behind it is excited that it tends to be very well received by legion members and the surrounding community.

Ken Shackleton, who most recently walked away with the $6,000 jackpot, also donated $500 of his winnings back to the Legion.