With a little bit of fate and a whole lot of luck, the 2023 Calgary Stampede Lotteries Rotary Dream Home winner was welcomed home

Calgarian Vincenzo Contrada has been buying Calgary Stampede Lotteries tickets his whole adult life and during the 2023 Calgary Stampede, with a little bit of fate and a whole lot of luck, his tradition of supporting the Stampede Lotteries paid off in a big way. Vincenzo, his wife, Nancy, and their two daughters were officially handed the keys to the 2023 Rotary Dream Home this morning, following Vincenzo’s big win at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth this past July!

“As born and raised Calgarians, my wife and I have been attending Stampede since we were kids and have made a tradition of attending with our daughters every year. Normally we visit Stampede on the final Sunday, which is when I always buy my Stampede Lotteries tickets. But this year, my boss asked me to attend a work event in his place at the Chuckwagon Races on the first Friday of Stampede. I did, and that’s when I bought the lucky ticket,” explains Vincenzo.

What Vincenzo describes as a little bit of fate includes a conversation with the volunteer at the Stampede Lotteries booth on that first Friday, during which he decided to buy a package of all Rotary Dream Home tickets for the first time. Following Stampede, he had a nagging feeling to check the website the day he thought the Lotteries winners were announced, but he checked too soon. He got a phone call from the Stampede Lotteries Committee the next day.

“It was shocking – when I heard who was calling I asked them if I had won the Dream Home. I was joking but after they confirmed I actually was the winner, I was in disbelief,” explains Vincenzo. “While it still seems like a dream, my wife and I truly feel fortunate. Winning the Dream Home is life changing!”

Ever since learning of their win, Vincenzo and his family, who currently live five minutes away from their new Dream Home have been driving by regularly, watching the progress of the Dream Home being relocated from Stampede Park to its permanent location in the southeast community of Rangeview by Section23 Developments. Today, they finally got to take the keys.

The stunning 2023 Rotary Dream Home, designed and built by Homes by Avi, features three bedrooms and three baths, at a cool 2,537 sq. ft. The design was inspired by the garden-to-table feel of the community, with lots of natural light, earth tones and optimal outdoor space. In addition to the Dream Home, the Contrada family also won $125,000 in cash, with their total Dream Home package win totaling in value of more than $1.26 million. In another twist of fate, this will be the Contrada family’s fourth Homes by Avi home.

"We are absolutely thrilled for the Contrada family! Their genuine love for their city and community is remarkable, and the fact that they are current homeowners with Homes by Avi highlights their appreciation for quality craftsmanship and unique design," says Vered Amir, Director of Sponsorship & Community Engagement, Homes by Avi Group of Companies. "This Dream Home marks our 27th home, which generated a record $854,000 to directly support numerous local charities and organizations in our community. Homes by Avi, along with our many trade partners, showcases the commitment and skill of our partners in bringing this vision to life. We truly value our relationship with the Calgary Stampede and Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park.

For more information, please contact: 

Christine Thompson 
Manager, Corporate Communications 
Calgary Stampede 
T 403.261.9186 
E cthompson@calgarystampede.com