Al Haycroft knows a thing or two about contests.

Two years in a row, he鈥檚 won the 50/50 draw on the final night of the Penticton Vees鈥� regular season. But he had no idea his luck would get this good.

Haycroft was the lucky winner of Encorp鈥檚 province-wide Return-It To Win-It Contest. Just by bringing his refundable beverage containers to the J & C Bottle Depot on Rosetown Avenue in Penticton this summer, Haycroft walked away with a cheque for $25,000.

鈥淢y first thought was 鈥� no way,鈥� said Haycroft in a press release. 鈥淪ure, I鈥檝e won a couple of things. But this is on a whole other level. You just don鈥檛 expect it.鈥�

Haycroft鈥檚 winning entry was randomly chosen from over 370,000 entries gathered from the Return-It Depots across British Columbia that participated in the consumer appreciation contest.

Haycroft currently works as a salesperson for a safety communications company. After his most recent win, his office colleagues want in on the action.

鈥淓veryone in my office is like 鈥� you have to buy us all lottery tickets now,鈥� he said.

鈥淎l embraces everything that鈥檚 great about Penticton,鈥� said Scott Fraser, president and CEO of Encorp Pacific. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a big outdoors guy, and he cares about the people in the community too. He gets it 鈥� how the small things like recycling can make a big difference in ensuring B.C. is a great place to live.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to reward someone who鈥檚 been a part of this community in such a positive way,鈥� said John Lee, owner of J & C Bottle Depot.

Haycroft intends to use some of his winnings to 鈥渟poil鈥� his mom, who鈥檚 now 81 years old.

鈥淚 figure I owe her one,鈥� he said.

After that, he plans to visit Las Vegas, to take in a show by rock-n-roll legend Elton John.

鈥淚鈥檝e never seen him before 鈥� it鈥檚 on the bucket list. But it won鈥檛 be for long.鈥�