MARKHAM, ON, February 17, 2016 — As reported by Global News live on February 16, 2016, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation has pulled one of it advertised prize properties, located at 39 Jeffrey Nihda Crescent in Markham, replacing it instead with a cash prize of equivalent value ($1.285 million in cash, plus the bonus of $25,000, for a grand total of $1,310,000). The property will not be opened for public viewing. This comes after the foundation was made aware by Global News, on February 12, 2016, that the owner of a home backing the prize property has a license issued by Health Canada to legally grow marijuana for personal consumption. Neighbors in the area have complained about the smell permeating from the home and parents of children attending a nearby elementary school have also noticed that their children have come home smelling like pot. Although current regulations allow for grow-ops only in industrial areas, the neighboring grow house has been grandfathered in under previous rules and is therefore allowed to remain as is.
The $1.285 million custom built home, one of seven properties offered through the lottery, overlooks the grow op, with security cameras and extra ventilation on the home visible from virtually every window in the dream home. Christine Lasky, Vice President of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, was quoted by Global News as saying, in regards to the home, “It will never open. It is closed to the public. It is no longer a prize in the Princess Margaret Home Lottery.” She went on to say, “All I can say is that I’m so grateful for Global having brought this to our attention. We acted as quickly as we could.” According to Lasky, “nobody inside the building organization was aware of this situation. [It is] very unusual.” In regards to their decision to replace the prize home with the equivalent cash value, Lasky stated “I think it’s the right thing to do. [Prize winners will] get the full value of the prize.”
In a release shared on the Foundation’s website, it states “the decision was made with the full support of Treasure Hill Homes, the builder, and in consultation with the licensing body that oversees charitable gaming, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Lasky expressed the Foundation’s disappointment that the property would not be available for viewing, but stated that they believe their decision was “the most appropriate and responsible action.” A similar $3.7 million Kleinburg show home, advertised as the Foundation’s “biggest grand prize ever”, is however still open for public viewing at 2 Northern Pines Boulevard, in Vaughan.
The Foundation encourages anyone who has purchased tickets to the Princess Margaret Home Lottery to contact their customer service team at 1-800-542-8813 or [email protected] with any questions. Full details are also available at www.princessmargaretlotto.com.
For the full story from Global News please click HERE.
For the full Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation official statement please click HERE.
Additional media coverage is available here:
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/prize-home-pulled-from-princess-margaret-lottery-over-grow-op-1.2781087
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