Lakewood hosts opportunity for $50,000 prize towards new homeowner

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lakewood of Strathmore hosted the conclusion of a contest to win $50,000 towards the purchase of a property in Lakewood, Aug. 18. 

“Over the last almost four months, we have been running five chances to win $50,000 challenge, and just last week, we drew our Top 15 finalists,” said Scott Silva, director of sales and marketing for Lakewood of Strathmore, on Aug. 15. “Out of those Top 15, we are going to be randomly selecting a Top 5, and those Top 5 play for five chances to win $50,000 towards their new home.”

For those who were not selected to participate in the Top 5, they would receive runner up prizes.

Tom Hufkens from Calgary, who has purchased property in Lakewood, ended up walking away with the $50,000 prize. 

“I did not really sound keen when we left the event yesterday, but on the way home it was like, ‘wait a minute, we just won a ton of money!’” said Hufkens. “It was a little bit surrealistic I think to realize that I had just won. We are really excited; we are really looking forward to getting some of the upgrades that we went back and forth on whether we should get.”

Hufkens has purchased a property in Lakewood and is currently working with a builder to see a custom home constructed. His $50,000 prize will be utilized to add to the construction and finishing of his new home. 

The contest came together as a scavenger hunt quiz put together as a partnership initiative between Lakewood of Strathmore and their associated builders within the community. 

“It took contestants or players through the various builders’ websites, with the idea to engage them into not only learning more about the builders, but wanting to build in Lakewood,” said Silva. “Every week, we released a new question about a builder that took them through a bit of a hunt through their website, answering anything from when did they start or what kinds of floor plans do they have.”

Silva explained this took place over the course of approximately six weeks, before community clues were hidden at Lakewood of Strathmore events. 

Participation was open to anybody so long as they were of legal age of majority, though it was more so encouraged for those who are actively considering purchasing a home in the community of Lakewood. 

Silva also clarified the $50,000 prize is not something that is being taken off a previously inflated home price, it was designed to be a hard contribution to a winner’s home at previously established market value. 

“It comes down to being anywhere from a five per cent down, more than five per cent in some instances, it can be a basement-plus, as far as getting your development, all your exterior landscaping, maybe a third car garage upgrade, an entertainment room, there are a lot of different ways that this could be applied,” he said. “It is completely up to you, even if you were working with the builder before and you only had a $650,000 budget, now there is an extra $50,000 to go a bit further, or conversely, reduce your cost by $50,000 altogether.”