Bensyn spent more than half of his first year on earth in the hospital, far from his home in Fort St. John.
He was born on October 31, 2024, with Down syndrome and complex heart defects.
His parents knew that their baby’s journey would be a difficult one after finding out, while pregnant, that Bensyn was to be born with Down syndrome.
They had to spend 240 days at BC Children’s Hospital and while they say it was incredibly difficult, they knew Bensyn was where he needed to be, surrounded by family and life-saving care.
“Spending so much time at BC Children’s changed us,” said Bensyn’s mother, Cailey. “It taught us how to slow down, to live moment by moment, and to see how much kindness and community can exist even in the hardest places.”
Donor-supported programs helped to carry the family through that time in their stay at the hospital.
Volunteers came into his playroom with his siblings and offered music and pet therapy to the family.
Born a fighter, Bensyn is now one year old and is with his family in Fort St. John, preparing for the next phase of his care, a heart surgery.
Choices Lottery is being launched for 2026, where funds from the lottery will go to support children like Bensy and research initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital, where more than 2,000 research professionals strive to redefine the future of pediatric care.
Tickets for the 2026 Choices Lottery are now on sale until the final sales deadline of Friday, April 10, or until tickets sell out.
The winner of the 2026 Choices Lottery will choose from 12 Grand Prize packages, including prize homes located in several communities across the province, or they can choose the record $2.5 million tax-free cash option.
- CHOICE #1 – WHITE ROCK BEACH (16243 10 Ave): A 3,597 sq ft 5-bedroom, 5 bathroom home with a double garage. Includes a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid SUV, cash in lieu of furniture, Portofino Resin Aluminum Outdoor Dining set, and $470,000 cash.
- CHOICE #2 – VANCOUVER (Lilibet: Two homes at Queen Elizabeth Park – 520 West 28th Ave): Two luxury condos—Unit 11 is a 551 sq ft interior, 353 sq ft exterior unit with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, single car parking spot, and 2 bike storage spaces. Unit 18 is a 1,176 sq ft interior, 555 sq ft exterior, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom unit with single car parking spot, 1 bike storage space, and 1 additional storage space. Includes a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Preferred Long Range EV and $330,000 cash.
- CHOICE #3 – SOUTH SURREY (Ocean Park – 13156 19A Ave): A 4,385 sq ft 5-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home with a double garage. Includes a 2026 Ford Mustang Select Mach-E Electric, furniture retailing at $82,430.90, Portofino Resin Aluminum Outdoor Dining set, $50,000 Travel Best Bets Gift Cards, and $100,000 cash.
- CHOICE #4 – LANGLEY (Family Town Home – TH #44, 20335 70A Ave): A 1,506 sq ft 3-bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms home with a double garage and a roof-top deck. Includes a 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV EX LX AWD (Plug-in Hybrid), a 2026 KIA EV9 Light RWD Electric, cash in lieu of furniture, $150,000 Travel Best Bets Gift Cards, and $1,600,000 cash.
- CHOICE #5 – VANCOUVER (Grosvenor – The Whitford, 433 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC): Two condo units: Unit 176 – a 1,234 sq ft interior, 527 sq ft exterior 3 bedroom + flex, 2.5 bathroom with 2 parking spots. Unit 174 – a 546 sq ft interior, 90 sq ft of exterior, 1 bedroom +flex, 1 bathroom with 1 parking spot. Includes a 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In SE Plug-in Hybrid/EV, cash in lieu of furniture, $50,000 Travel Best Bets Gift Cards, and $200,000 cash.
- CHOICE #6 – WEST COQUITLAM (Botanica by Qualex Landmark – 585 Kemsley Ave): A 833 sq ft condo unit with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a 52 sq ft balcony/patio and 2 car parking. Includes a 2026 Audi Q6 Progressiv EV, a 2026 Audi RSQ8, cash in lieu of furniture and $1,650,000 cash.
- CHOICE #7 – KELOWNA (Water Street by the Park – Unit 4105, 1660 Water Street): A 1,408 sq ft luxury condo with 3 bedrooms & a den, 2 bathrooms and 2 car parking. Includes a 2026 GMC Sierra EV Truck 3SB Elevation EV, cash in lieu of furniture, $100,000 Travel Best Bets Gift Cards, and $600,000 cash.
- CHOICE #8 – WEST KELOWNA (The Waterfront at Westrich Bay – Villa 33, 1650 Old Ferry Road): a 2,308 sq ft 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom home with a 565 sq ft roof-top terrace, hot tub and 2-car garage. Includes a 2026 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab – Hybrid LTD, a 2026 Supreme S220 Power Boat, and $655,000 cash.
- CHOICE #9 – SOOKE (SookePoint Ocean Cottages – 1000 SookePoint Place – Suite 33B or comparable 33A, 33C, or 33D): A 1005 sq ft 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, fully furnished, west-facing, ocean-view cottage with underground parking. Includes a 2026 Ford Escape Hybrid, $125,000 Travel Best Bets Gift Cards, and $1,600,000 cash.
- CHOICE #10 – COURTENAY (1596 Crown Isle Blvd): An Integra Home at Crown Isle Resort and Community with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (3,280 sq ft lot) with a 2-car garage. Includes a Design Therapy Furniture Package, a 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz 1st Edition 4MOTION, two Specialized Vado 3.0 Electric Bikes, a Crown Isle Pro Shop Gift Card, Mount Washington Alpine Resort Gift Cards ($2,500) and $1,415,000 cash.
- CHOICE #11 – COLWOOD (Origin at The Beachlands, Lot 2 – 3571 Seabluff Cres): A 4,000 sq ft, custom-built, 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home with a rooftop terrace and a double garage. Includes a 2026 Honda Civic Sedan Sport Hybrid, cash in lieu of furniture and $100,000 cash
- CHOICE #12 – $2,500,000 in tax-free cash
Every home package is worth over $3 million and comes with a $15,000 Save-On Foods Gift Card or $11,000 Cash and a $10,000 Esso Gift Card or $7,500 Cash.