Alberta man who lost home to floods wins million dollar dream home

Just when you think all is lost, the universe has a way of turning things around.

This is especially true for southern Alberta's William Rader, who won a show home worth nearly $1 million in Alberta’s STARS Lottery on Tuesday morning, The Canadian Press reports.

When the flood waters devastated most of the town of High River in June of last year, Rader and his young family were forced to evacuate their home for nearly two months.

So what did he do?

He bought a ticket for the STARS air ambulance fundraising lottery in hopes of winning one of the four grand prizes. Lucky for Rader, his name was drawn as the winner of a $945,000 show home in Red Deer.

“We’re still in shock-pinch me a few more times,” said the 35-year-old oil and gas worker on his big win.

He was happily sleeping in on his day off when he received the call, telling him the good news.

When they finally told him exactly what he had won, Rader literally fell off his chair.

The family had since returned to their severely flood-damaged home, living out of the top floor as they work to restore the flooded basement and lower level of the house.

“It’s been very tough,” Rader said. “Family time is back in the bedroom watching TV.”

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Dishing out the $250 for an 18-pack of tickets truly paid off for this family, who currently do not even own a couch.

However, the decision to move into the 2, 504 sq. ft. custom two-storey castle is still up in the air.

“It’s too early — we have to sit down and have a family discussion,” Rader said, unsure of whether or not the family should move north to Red Deer to live in the new house.

“Everybody’s in bad shape right now in High River,” said Rader, adding that there are still many who aren’t even back in their homes yet because the damage was so extensive.

This year’s STARS Lottery raised over $11 million for the ambulance service, with 3,200 prizes worth more than $5.6 million.

(Images via STARS Lottery 2014, The Canadian Press)

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