ESTEVAN —
A lot of people emerged as winners during this year’s Million Dollar Auction, and as a bonus, it didn’t cost them a thing.
Over 100 people gathered at the Estevan Market Mall for the auction Thursday night, with about 60 of them registered to bid on 18 items provided by local businesses.
The event was presented by the Estevan Mercury, SASKTODAY.ca, and Golden West Broadcasting's Estevan entities – CJ 1150, Sun 102.3, Rock 106 and Discover Estevan. The auctioneering was handled by Blaine Molstad with the Mack Auction Company.
People used thousands of fake dollars they collected over the past several weeks through various local promotions. The money was accumulated through the live on location broadcasts that Golden West had at each business since early September. And the participating businesses had giveaways of auction cash on their Facebook pages.
The highest bid was $29,000 for a Kincord Midnight Rocker Recliner from Room By Room Furniture – the last item to be sold during the night. A variety of other prizes were available.
“The Million Dollar Auction at the Estevan Market Mall was entertaining and lively,” said Estevan Mercury sales manager Pat Pasloski. “After the past couple of years, I think that coming together in a community place for some fun interaction was important.”
She noted that bidding was intense for items. Molstad and his team were very good as auctioneers, Pasloski said, and it wrapped up in under an hour.
“This auction was a way to showcase products from our local businesses and to support shopping locally,” said Pasloski. “There was a nice array of auction items that appealed to all.”
Golden West program manager Andrew McCormack said people were really happy to win items during the night.
“I thought there were some really good prizes. I think it was a nice mix, whether it was luxury [item], like a nice recliner for people to win, or things people can use in the yard, like a nice barbecue up for grabs, or things people need in the house,” he said.
He was also pleased to have a raffle this year, which had prizes from participating auction businesses and others companies in the community.
“I think a lot of people are thrilled about a bit more of an even footing, so whether you had enough money for one of the big-ticket auction items or not, you were still in it to win something,” said McCormack.
He was also impressed with the crowd that attended the event and the live-auction broadcasts leading up to the auction.
“It was a nice way for the paper and us to meet a lot of the people in our community, and see a lot of familiar faces as well. A lot of people were back for the contest this year, but a lot of people were doing it for the first time, too, and it’s always been an excellent way to get their faces in front of the community.”
The businesses were pleased to be part of the auction and were surprised at how many people turned out for the live on location spots. People would stick around to shop in the stores.
Pasloski said the Mercury and Golden West appreciate the participants who took the time to enter the online contests and turned out to spin the wheel.
“There were some pretty serious bidders in the crowd, but there were smiles everywhere.”
The businesses that supplied items were A & A Jewellery, Bear Claw Casino & Hotel, Canadian Tire, The City of Estevan, Days Inn Estevan, the Estevan Eye Clinic, The Floor Store, Great Canadian Oil Change, Open Season Outdoor Warehouse, Room By Room Furniture, Sector 1 Glass, Senchuk Ford Sales, Sholter Horsman Furniture & Appliances, Southeast College, Southern Plains Co-op, Sun Country Hearing and the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.
