And the winner is…

Sarah Ann Cleroux, 4, sits at her computer glued to a French math game. Down the hallway, her mother, Nathalie Cleroux, enjoys an extra hour of sleep.

The Saturday morning routine at Iqaluit’s Green Row housing is a tradition. Nathalie, a single parent, enjoys the extra shut-eye while her daughter stays safe, occupied and computer savvy.

Sarah’s early interest in technology recently paid off. In November, the pre-schooler won $980 from an online investment contest: a $500 Canada Savings bond and a $40 monthly allowance for the next year. A certificate and t-shirt announcing her lucky win are stored in her bedroom.

Sarah was one of 36,000 Canadian youths who entered the Buck Save-A-Lot-Sing N’ Save contest. By entering the contest, she qualified for a draw co-sponsored by Canada Investment and Savings. Thirteen winners — one from each province and territory — were drawn in November.

“I said ‘You won. You did it again,’ and Sarah said ‘woo-hoo,’ although I’m not sure she knew what I meant,” Nathalie said.

Sarah has won the contest two years in a row — and in both years she has been the youngest winner.

Nathalie admits she was behind her daughter’s win — from finding the contest online, to helping Sarah answer the question “What are the three golden rules of saving?” Even so, she thinks her daughter may have the Midas touch.

“Is she naturally lucky? Maybe. It helps that not too many people knew about the contest. Maybe she was the only one who submitted a form in Nunavut,” Nathalie said.

Entering contests in Nunavut has its advantages — the odds of winning are greater than in larger centres due to the territory’s small population. Fewer entries means a greater chance to win.

Imooshee Nutaraqjuk of Grise Fiord won a trip anywhere First Air flies at a Christmas party last year. The Nunavut Power Corporation employee plans to fly to Ottawa with one of his sons.

“This is the first time to win something. I was sure happy,” he said with a chuckle.

Mikiseetee Komangapik won a snowmobile after spending $600 on groceries at the Co-op in Pond Inlet. He admits he was feeling lucky the day his name was called. The Co-op truck driver uses the machine to hunt and provide food for family and friends.

“My wife was beside me when they called my name. I was happy very much,” Komangapik said.

If Ellwood Johnson, senior administrative officer in Cambridge Bay had a halo, it would be in the shape of a horseshoe — a symbol of good luck. In the past five years, he has won two telescopes, binoculars, a barbecue and a snowmobile from the Alberta Hospital lottery. But Johnson says he doesn’t buy the raffle tickets to win.

“The way I look at it, up here if people get sick they fly south. So this is a way of supporting the hospital. It’s a donation. If you win something, it’s a bonus,” Johnson said.

Few can deny the thrill holding a winning ticket. But why do some people collect prizes while others watch enviously from the sidelines?

The luck of the Irish is not a myth, says Noel McDermott, an Arctic College instructor in Iqaluit. His notable wins include second place at an egg-and-spoon race and, recently, two airline tickets to Ottawa. McDermott says luck comes in many forms when you’re Irish.

“The weather is so appallingly bad in Ireland, you’ll never get too hot in your house — it’s free air conditioning all over the country. And we’re absolutely fortunate to have had England conquer us and teach us their melodious language causing us to forget our barbaric tongue and hedonist ways,” he said.

Sarah Cleroux would rather save her lucky pennies than ponder historical conquests. Her pockets are often weighted down with spare change she’s found on the streets. When her two piggy banks are full, she and her mother head to the bank to top up her savings account. The money may one day go toward a trip to Disneyland.

“She’s very independent. She make her own bed, dresses herself and knows the importance of saving money,” Cleroux said.

“I don’t think she understands what it is to have all this money, but she was happy to win again. She’s a lucky little girl.”