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Meet the Grand Prize Winner of Our 73rd National Sweepstakes ― Renate Ackley from Edmonton, Alberta

Patience Pays Off in a Big Way for 83-Year-Old Edmonton Resident

When Edmonton resident Renate Ackley received a Priority Courier envelope that required her signature, she wondered to herself, “Gee, what could this be?”

Ackley opened the envelope to find a letter inside announcing that she had won the Reader’s Digest 73rd National Sweepstakes. Her first reaction? Complete and utter disbelief.

“I was very surprised. I just couldn’t believe it,” said Ackley.

Ackley’s husband, who was at home with her when she read the letter stating she had won the grand prize, said that his wife “had been filling out these forms forever.”

For Ackley, it truly goes to show that patience pays off. And in a huge way! As the recipient of the Grand Prize, she will receive $500,000.

Ackley also received a call from Prize Award Administrator Marisa Orsini to congratulate her on her win. Orsini reminded her to fill in the paperwork with all the necessary details, including correctly answering the skill-testing question. Once the forms were received, Ackley was officially declared the winner.

“I’ve never won anything before so it really is quite unbelievable,” said Ackley.

When asked what she plans to do with her winnings, the generous grandmother of three and great grandmother of five said she will share the money with family. “Not all of it though, mind you!” Ackley jokingly added. “And I will buy my husband a new car since I have already scrapped two!”

Ackley and her husband were picked up from their home by limousine and chauffeured to the historic Rutherford House in Edmonton where the prize ceremony took place.

It was quite the family reunion as four generations of the Ackley family gathered for the ceremony. Ackley’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren—including her one-and-a-half-month old great-grandson Lachlan—were present to witness Ackley being awarded a cheque for $500,000 by Marisa Orsini, Prize Award Administrator, Reader’s Digest Canada. And in addition to having a wonderful lunch together, the group enjoyed a funny and entertaining etiquette tea lesson from one of the Rutherford House guides.

click here to read the official press release

National Sweepstakes Winners

DID YOU KNOW THAT: Since 1962, Reader's Digest has awarded more than 25 million dollars in prizes to more than 107,500 winners across Canada through its Sweepstakes.

WHY READER'S DIGEST OFFERS SWEEPSTAKES: Reader's Digest offers Sweepstakes simply because their customers enjoy them, and regard them as a fun activity or perk.

Offering Sweepstakes allows Reader's Digest to showcase a wide variety of products that appeal to a broad range of Canadians coast-to-coast. The Sweepstakes is like the window of a retail store; the customer can browse without buying.

All pertinent information concerning our Sweepstakes is clearly itemized in the rules. These are filed with La Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, the governing regulatory body for companies located in Québec. The Reader's Digest Sweepstakes is independently audited and judged by the chartered accountant firm of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (RCGT). The bank, TD Canada Trust, ensures the payment of all the prizes through a guarantee Reader’s Digest purchases for each new Sweepstakes.

AN ESTABLISHED AND REPUTABLE CANADIAN COMPANY: Reader’s Digest Canadian Operations publishes five magazines, including Reader’s Digest and Sélection, Canada's most read magazines, reaching 7.3 million Canadians every month.

Reader's Digest is an established company operating in Canada, serving its customers for over 60 years.

Reader’s Digest is a leading Canadian multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects audiences throughout the country. Recently launched publications include Best Health, a healthy lifestyle magazine for Canadian women and More of Our Canada, a companion magazine to the very popular Our Canada magazine. Along with being a premier publisher of books, music and video products, it also operates four branded websites.

In 2008, Masthead Magazine declared that Reader's Digest magazine retains the distinction of being the most influential Canadian magazine of all time. A recent study, conducted in the winter of 2007-2008 by Roper Reports Canada, concluded that Reader's Digest is Canada's most trusted magazine.

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Sweepstakes Information

Meet the Winners Click to see our recent contest winners. Will you be next on our list?
They won the Grand Prize - And you could, too! Find out more about our past Grand Prize winners! Where they're from, what they plan on doing with the cash - and much, much more!
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