By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

New Okanagan condo package, 3 grand prize homes highlight 26th annual STARS Lottery

Jan 17, 2019 | 1:24 PM

LETHBRIDGE – This year’s STARS Lottery home in Lethbridge can be described as “retro-modern.”

With features like an older 1970s style brick fireplace, with bold accent wall, olive countertops, near shag-type carpeting on the stairs, overstuffed couches in brick red and green, and macramé wall features, it could almost feel like a very upscale “Brady Bunch” home on the inside, but with the most modern conveniences and a very modern exterior.

The “Reece Bentley” by Van Arbor Homes is in west Lethbridge, and boasts nearly 4,000 square feet, with a total of four bedrooms. There’s a workout room in the basement, a wine cellar, bar, and bedroom. On the main floor, is the main living area, kitchen, a “music listening” room or office, half-bath, and other features.

The upstairs boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a laundry and a balcony-walkway to the master bedroom.

It’s just one of three homes offered as a grand-prize, along with a one-million dollar early-bird Okanagan “luxury life package” that includes a condominium in Kelowna and memberships to some exclusive clubs.

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Stars vice president of operations Mike Lamacchia says every year raising money in this lottery is crucial to the STARS operations.

“It’s our single largest fundraiser for STARS. It provides about $11,000,000 of net funding for us. And what that really means is it supports the Calgary base funding for one year…so really important.”

STARS flies to Chinook Regional Hospital from Calgary about once a week, and in the last year, flew about 150 missions around southern Alberta. Chelsie Bullock needed STARS Air Ambulance back in August 2007, when she and a friend were in an accident near Stirling.

“We were t-boned on the passenger side, which was where I was, and our car flipped and eventually went into a ditch. And so, I was hurt pretty bad. I had five bleeds in my brain, I had a bruised heart, lacerated liver. They were all internal [injuries] except I had some glass in my hand from shielding my face. So, it was pretty serious.”

Since then Bullock has recovered well but has some lingering breathing issues. And she teared up as she thought about the STARS crew saving her life.

“It’s just amazing to know that they go out every day and do everything they can, whether that person’s going to live or not, they try their hardest. They just give it all. Like, for me, it was my life. They saved my life, and so it’s kind of a big deal to me.”

Tickets for the lottery can be purchased at startlotteryalberta.ca, or at the show homes. The early bird prize draw will be March 15, while final draws will be held in early April.