Chase the Ace Sydney prepares for Mother's Day weekend draw

The Chase the Ace draw in Sydney will celebrate its one-year anniversary tonight with a record-breaking jackpot.

Since launching with a full deck a year ago, the draw is now down to five cards and a jackpot estimated to reach $2.6 million.

Organizer Stephen Tobin said as many as 8,000 people will fill nine ticket-selling venues around the Sydney area, and many more will watch the draw online.

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He said it's an anxious day for everyone involved.

"A lot of work goes into this," Tobin said. "We're up to 250 volunteers across the Sydney area that work tirelessly from week to week and day to day.

"We're excited, and it's a bit of mixed emotions because on one hand we do want to see somebody walk away with that life-changing prize, on the other hand it's also good for us to keep it going because we're raising some much-needed funds for two very well-deserving charities."

Million-dollar Mother's Day weekend

The proceeds from the draw go to Ashby Legion Branch 138 and the Horizon Achievement Centre.

Since surpassing the Inverness Chase the Ace final jackpot of more than $1.7 million, Tobin said the Sydney draw has become the largest raffle ticket jackpot in Atlantic Canada and possibly the country.

Last month, it was decided to start holding the draw every two weeks, rather than weekly, due to the challenge of organizing such a large event.

This week's changes

The key change for the draw tonight is that the Mayflower Mall one of the larger ticket-selling locations has been removed as a venue.

"It was Mother's Day weekend and I think mall management is expecting a large turnout of shoppers," Tobin said. "So we didn't want to add 5,000 people on top of what they already expect to be a very busy weekend."

Cape Breton University and the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre have been added in the mall's place.

Tobin said he expects many of the tour buses which brought people from as far as Montreal for the last draw will head to one of those venues.

Congestion concerns

But Cape Breton Regional Police spokesperson Shannon Kerr said the loss of the mall and its huge parking lot may result in more congestion downtown.

"We do anticipate there being, with those cars displaced, even more traffic volume, and that's something we're prepared for," she said.

Kerr said parking restrictions will be posted, and violators will face fines and towing.

Her advice to people dealing with the heavy, slow-moving traffic: "Just be aware that you have to be patient."

'It only lasts for a short time'

While the crush of ticket-buyers may keep some people away from the downtown today, shopper Bill Smith says he doesn't mind the crowds.

"It only lasts for a short time," he said. "Organizations are benefiting from it, the businesses are and so on and so forth. So what can you say?"

If the ace doesn't get picked tonight, organizers expect the next jackpot could top $3 million.