Karlin Selinger’s holiday bet paid off in early November when the 18-year-old’s name was selected in the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan’s prize draw for Métis citizens who got vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Selinger did not believe what she was hearing when she received the phone call from the MN–S telling her she had won a $25,000 scholarship because of that decision. Her name, one of 80 total winners, was selected during a November 5th draw.  

“In the beginning, I was a little bit hesitant and then my family all got it, so I just went ahead and got it also,” Selinger said.

Selinger said she had no problems or negative side effects from vaccination. She’s mindful that vaccination will make her life easier going forward as travel restrictions and other precautions against COVID-19 become common. 

The 18-year-old aspiring elementary school teacher from Rapid View was one of 30 recipients of $25,000 scholarships to be used for future or current post-secondary studies. 

She’s currently enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan in Lloydminster but will transition to Saskatoon in 2022. She has 10 years to use the scholarship.

The contest started in September. Between Sept. 1^st and Nov. 27^th, the number of total vaccination doses administered in Saskatchewan increased by 248,559 to 1,726,722; first doses rose to by 110,587 to 892,927 during the same period.

There were 13,496 entrants overall and the winners were picked across several weekly draws over a three-month period. There were about 21,000 eligible Métis citizens in the province.

“We were very encouraged (at MN-S) and very proud of the fact that so many people also considered being vaccinated or supported the efforts of being vaccinated,” Friesen said.

“It certainly was an ambitious project. However, it was successful in the way that we reached thousands of Métis citizens with this incentive draw,” Friesen said. “We see that as a great success.”

Other draw prizes included gift cards, Chromebooks, tablets, a pontoon boat and various vehicles, said Marg Friesen, MN-S minister responsible for health and safety. 

The total prize value was more than $2.5 million, Friesen said. The money came from federal government COVID relief funds.

“This was a way to really capture people’s attention and to encourage people to be vaccinated,” she said. 

The idea for the draw was born when pop-up vaccine clinics in Metis communities throughout the province didn’t attract enough people, she said.

Proof of double vaccination is required for winners to collect their prizes. Vaccination was required prior to the draw and included those Metis citizens who were vaccinated prior to the contest start. 

Winners were announced during a live stream on Nov. 27^th, during the MN-S Legislative Assembly.