Dear Fortunate Winner,

 Congratulations on your incredible win! You’ve been handed a golden ticket in a world where so many are just trying to get by. It’s a life-changing moment, no doubt, and one we hope you’ll reflect on deeply.

You see, this letter isn’t just about celebrating your win—it’s about the bigger picture.

Janis Joplin once sang, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?”—a cheeky prayer for material wealth. But here’s the reality: today, that Mercedes costs the same as a small condo once did in Vancouver. And that condo? It’s now a pipe dream for so many, as housing prices soar and wages stay stagnant.

Then there’s Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival, a song about privilege and the taxman. When the taxman comes, it shouldn’t “look like a rummage sale,” yet for too many of the rich, that’s exactly what it does. While everyday people pay their share—and more—billions are hidden away in tax havens like Monaco, Panama, and Swiss bank accounts.

Here’s a question for you: If Canada gave you a home, an opportunity, a community—why not give back? Why funnel wealth out of the country that helped you thrive? The truth is, this system can only work if everyone does their part. Right now, the richest among us aren’t doing enough.

The Cost of Looking Away

As you read this, people are dying on the streets of our cities—not from lack of opportunity, but from lack of basic humanity. Food prices are skyrocketing, and families are skipping meals. Kids scroll through lives of abundance on their phones but feel emptier than ever. Empathy is fading, replaced by apathy in a world that feels increasingly disconnected.

Yet, here you are, a fortunate winner. You’ve been given a rare opportunity. And with that opportunity comes a choice:

Do you insulate yourself in luxury, hiding wealth and avoiding responsibility?

Or do you step up, recognizing that your win isn’t just luck—it’s a chance to lead by example?

What You Can Do

Imagine if you used even a fraction of your winnings to:

Advocate for fair taxation and transparency, ensuring the wealthiest contribute their share.

Fund programs that provide housing, food security, and addiction recovery.

Support art, music, and community initiatives that restore hope and connection.

It’s not just about charity—it’s about fairness. It’s about acknowledging that you were fortunate, and others weren’t. It’s about ensuring that Canada remains a place where everyone, not just a select few, can thrive.

A Call to Legacy

No matter how much you spend, the cars will age, the houses will lose their shine, and the trips to Monaco will blend into memory. But the lives you touch? The impact you make? That will last forever.

So as you celebrate your win, remember this: you have the power to turn a jackpot into a legacy. To be more than just a millionaire—to be a force for change in a world that desperately needs it.

We believe in you.

With hope and determination,

A Friend Who Believes in a Better Future

The Other Side of the Jackpot: A Hard Look at Gambling and Its Empty Promises

 Lotteries are sold as dreams: the chance to win big, to change your life, to finally escape the grind. And for a lucky few, that dream comes true. Every year in BC, hundreds become millionaires through lotteries.

But here’s the question: Where are they now?

If we’re creating hundreds of millionaires each year, why do we still have people dying on the streets from cold and overdose? Why are there still families living in shelters, seniors choosing between rent and food, and children growing up hungry? If even a fraction of those winnings were shared, wouldn’t we see a different reality?

The Lie We Were Told

When lotteries were first introduced in BC, they came with a promise: The money will go to good causes. We were told the funds would support education, health care, and community programs. But take a closer look.

Only a small percentage of lottery revenue actually goes to public programs.

The rest? It gets lost in administrative costs, advertising, and payouts, leaving the vulnerable to fend for themselves.

Meanwhile, gambling addiction is a silent epidemic. The same system that makes a millionaire of one person destroys the lives of countless others. Families are torn apart, savings are wiped out, and desperation sets in. The same people who buy lottery tickets dreaming of a way out often end up deeper in the cycle of poverty.

The Problem With "Winners"

Winning the lottery isn’t just luck—it’s also a responsibility. You’ve been given something extraordinary, but how often do winners use that gift to lift others?

Too often, winners are blinded by the rush of wealth. They buy houses, cars, and vacations, but forget the world they came from. The suffering they used to see becomes invisible, just like the man lying on cold cement at the bus stop, ignored by passersby.

The Big Picture

The reality is, our society is broken. Gambling was never about helping communities—it’s a profit machine that feeds on hope and despair. The system takes from those who can least afford it and rarely gives back in meaningful ways.

The fact that we’re still seeing people die on the streets, that addiction and homelessness are rampant, and that our mental health system is overwhelmed—it’s all proof that the promises were lies.

A Call to Accountability

We don’t just need generosity from lottery winners. We need an overhaul of the system.

Lotteries should actually fund the programs they claim to support.

Winners should be encouraged—or even incentivized—to contribute to social good.

Gambling addiction needs to be addressed with the seriousness it deserves.

And for the rest of us, we need to stop turning a blind eye. Every time we walk past someone in need without helping, we’re part of the problem. Every time we buy a ticket hoping for our own miracle, we’re feeding the beast.

The Question We Should All Ask

If you were given the gift of wealth, what would you do with it? Would you hoard it, blind to the suffering around you? Or would you use it to make the world a better place?

Because right now, too many people are choosing the former. And until we change that, the cycle of hope, despair, and exploitation will keep turning.

A Cute Christmas Video to Warm Your Heart

and maybe make you cry!

Justino es guardia de seguridad en una fábrica de maniquíes. Al trabajar en el turno de noche nunca coincide con sus colegas de trabajo, pero irónicamente pasa sus noches rodeado de figuras humanas. Su soledad y sus ganas de compartir le llevan primero a interactuar con los propios maniquíes, y más tarde a comunicarse a través de ellos con sus compañeros del turno de mañana. En su afán por hacer cosas por los demás, Justino se llegará a olvidar de sí mismo pero el destino querrá que sus compañeros no se olviden de él.

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Sique el día a día de la fábrica en http://on.fb.me/1PFUwEH
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Música, créditos: “Nuvole Bianche” compuesta por Ludovico Einaudi y arreglada por Joan Martorell.