Deuce is Loose, Jig the Joker, Catch the King of Clubs: Eastern P.E.I.'s love of lucky community fundraisers

People in eastern P.E.I. have taken the Chase the Ace phenomenon and made it their own from Jig the Joker at the Northumerbland Arena to Dig for the Deuce at the Souris Legion, Deuce is Loose at the Belfast Rec Centre and Catch the King of Clubs at the Montague Curling Club and Wellness Centre.

There are at least half a dozen community fundraisers in the eastern part of P.E.I., where Islanders are chasing a playing card and racking up much-needed dollars for community non-profit groups.

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A night out as well a fundraiser

Deuce is Loose in Belfast, P.E.I., started about a year ago, but they're already into their third deck of cards after the card was drawn quickly the first two times. The weekly draw raises money for the Belfast Fire Department, the Lions Club and the Rec Centre.

"It was good right off the bat, the community really came behind it. It was sort of a night out for people where they could participate in trivia and have some supper while they're at it," said Keir White, general manager of Belfast Recreation Centre.

Every community is hoping that their fundraiser will have the same kind of success as the Chase the Ace did in Tignish, P.E.I., or North River, P.E.I.,

But in Belfast, Deuce is Loose is more local, at least for now.

"A solid base for us any ways of 40 to 50 people who are there every week regardless of how big the jackpot is," said White.

"I think members of the community really support these initiatives because of what the money goes towards," he added.

Community support for community programs

This time around, the jackpot has built up, to more than $15,000, which White says is starting to bring in some crowds, including people from other areas.

He describes the weekly fundraiser as a way to continue to offer services in rural communities.

"It's not a get rich quick type of thing but it's enough to help out and buy a few things for the local fire department or whatever it might be."

The main thing, says White, is to get community support.

"I think if each little community, if they get support from their own community, it's worth doing."

Jackpots growing

Like Deuce is Loose, most of the card chases in eastern P.E.I. have fairly modest jackpots:

Jig the Joker is held every Monday at the Northumberland Arena and has a jackpot just over $13,000.

Chase the Ace of Spades at Three Rivers Sportsplex in Georgetown, P.E.I., has a pot of more than $16,000.

Dig for the Deuce at the Souris Legion has more than $21,000 up for the grabs.

But the one with the most buzz right now is in Morell, P.E.I. Hosted by Morell Lions Club and Northside Communities Initiative, the draw is held every Saturday and now has a jackpot of $61,270 and just 14 cards left.

Organizers estimate the winner will take home $75,000 if they draw the ace of spades.

A gold mine

The card chase phenomenon may now be taking eastern P.E.I. by storm, but the region has been home to one of the Island's biggest community fundraisers for the last 4 years.

The Rotary Gold Mine has been a literal gold mine for the Montague Rotary Club.

Since it started in March of 2012, winners of the Gold Mine have taken home almost $1.9 million. That means another almost two million dollars has gone back into the community.

"Almost everybody can afford a toonie," said Sharon Riley, one of the Rotary Gold Mine team members as well as an employee at the Eastern Graphic newspaper, which partners on the weekly draw.

There are more than 11,500 people who actively play the Gold Mine weekly and there are still new people joining. Everyone first purchases a ticket which assigns them a number.

"People have embraced it because all the money goes back to the community, half goes to the winner, the other half goes to all of our charities, and we have 14 charity groups that we support the food banks, the hospital."

It also works, Riley admits, because the smiling faces of the winners and their substantial cheques are featured weekly, along with the community group that is the beneficiary of the week's draw.

And there is the risk, as well, that you didn't play that week.

"The fact that your name is published whether you win or not, I think that's the reason people keep putting their toonie in."

Room for everyone

Riley has watched the proliferation of Chase the Ace spinoffs but isn't worried that it's going to take a bit out of the popularity of the Rotary Gold Mine.

"I do think there's enough room. It's incredible," said Riley.

"I think it shows that the communities realize that they can't rely on government or anyone else, that they have to make it happen themselves and that's what they're doing."

Riley has met Islanders who have switched from lottery tickets to these local fundraisers. And the Gold Mine has lots of Islanders living out west who play, including four winners so far.

She doesn't anticipate the glitter to come off the Gold Mine any time soon, as the fundraiser moves towards the $4 million mark.

"The good it's doing in the community, it just can't be tracked it's so much."

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