FOAM LAKE, Sask. — A Foam Lake mother says a surprise call from Co-op has turned a difficult year into one she will never forget after winning the grand prize in the Find Your Summer Sweepstakes.
Taylor Marie Fitzgerald was announced Sept. 24, as the grand prize winner of the Western Canadian give away and chose a $75,000 cash payout over a truck offered as part of the prize package.
“I'm shocked. I've never felt so lucky in my life. Or grateful,” Fitzgerald said after learning she had won.
Fitzgerald said, “I just purely entered on a whim, not expecting anything out of it,” she said. “I got an email the other day and I thought surely that's a scam.”
After confirming the win was legitimate, Fitzgerald arrived at the Foam Lake Co-op Food Store expecting a prize, but not the contest's top award.
“I only had put in for two, but I was expecting like the groceries and gas,” she said. “But I'm shocked.”
The stay-at-home mother said the money will have a significant impact on her family's finances.
“We are a paycheck-to-paycheck family, a single-income household,” Fitzgerald said. “It's going to change our lives greatly. We struggle, and I know everyone does with the economy right now, but this is definitely life-changing.”
Fitzgerald has two daughters, and one of them accompanied her to the announcement. She said only her mother and sister knew she had been contacted by Co-op before the public reveal.
“It's been hard. It's been really hard,” she said. “I'm so grateful and I do hope this is a turning point.”
The Co-op Find Your Summer Sweepstakes was held across Western Canada. Customers could enter by purchasing participating products, scanning a promotional QR code and submitting their receipt.
Michael Casey, store manager of the Foam Lake Co-op Food Store, said staff were thrilled to learn the grand prize winner came from their community.
“It's really exciting. Everybody's so excited about it,” Casey said. “I can't believe somebody in a little town won a grand prize.”
Casey said employees learned late last week that a local customer had won and spent the following days preparing for the surprise presentation while keeping the news confidential.
Casey said the winner's reaction made the event even more memorable.
“When she came into the store, I was shocked because I didn't know who she was,” he said. “She had no idea what she won.”
For Fitzgerald, the moment was almost overwhelming.
“We're not a lucky family by any means,” she said. “For this, I don't have words. I'm so grateful.”
