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Friday, April 10, 2026

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Nearly two decades of dedication in Neepawa

By Eoin Devereux 

For the past 18 years, local volunteers with the Neepawa & District Medical Committee Farm & Leisure Lotto have started their spring working the phones to make our community a little bit better. And for those same 18 years, you’ve been on the other end of that phone call opening your heart and your wallet or purse to do the very same.

The Neepawa Town Office was frantic with activity on Mar. 26 to 28, as a portion of the space was taken over by members of the Beautiful Plains Community Medical Committee. Each year around this time, that group assembles to operate the lottery, whose proceeds help to fund improvements to Neepawa’s medical services. This year’s support will aid in renovations to some office space to assist with the Doctor’s residency program.

Leisure Lotto Coordinator Mary Ellen Clark noted that it takes an incredibly dedicated group of people to make this local fundraising effort work. She thanked those workers who volunteer their time to make those calls. Clark also thanked those on the other end of the line, for seeing value in supporting them.

“The money goes to a great place, and we’ve received support from not only around the community, but across the province and even beyond those borders,” explained Clark.

“We have regular [lottery] buyers that purchase from us year after year, that have never even used our medical facilities. But they see what we’re trying to do as a community and they’re so happy to help.”

The early bird draw wrapped up last weekend. In terms of those sales, the early pace of ticket purchasing was slightly behind previous years, but picked up in a noticeable way just before the deadline on Saturday, Mar. 28. The winner of the early bird draw was Crystal Stewart of Rivers, MB.

Tickets are still available for purchase for the main lottery, which features $130,000 voucher from Enns Brothers (Option #1), a pair of $55,000 credits from both McLaughlin G.M. and Four Seasons R.V. Sales (Option #2) or $100,000 cash (Option #3). As well, there is the 50/50 add-on draw, which as of the publication deadline was sitting at $59,410.

To purchase tickets, call toll free 1-877-876-8555 or order online at www. neepawalotto.com.