For as long as Dennis Dornan can remember, he and his wife, Eva, have bought a ticket for the Y Dream Home.

Actually, they buy five tickets a year, he told The Daily News on Monday. But this year the combo pack sold out, so he purchased three instead.

And three was the charm for the Dornans as they are the winners of this year's $767,000 Dream Home at 3001 Visao Court in Sun Rivers.

"I'm speechless," said Dornan, mine operator at Craigmont Mines in Merritt.

Bryce Herman, director of marketing for the Dream Home Lottery, handed out more than 270 prizes during the two-and-a-half-hour draw Monday morning, with the grand prize announced at the conclusion.

The draw was held inside the 2,900-square foot house, which features etched concrete and wood floors, stained timbers, radiant in-floor heating and a rock fireplace wall.

Herman phoned the family as soon as the names were announced. Dornan's wife, Eva, answered.

"I'm so excited," she said, her voice audible on speaker phone. "I can't believe this."

Herman invited her up to view her new home, but she told him she had to get in touch with her husband first. Dornan was at work.

Later in the day, she told The Daily News that they've never seen the house, having only viewed pictures in the newspaper.

The Dornans don't know if they'll sell their North Kamloops home and move to Sun Rivers or stay put and put the new house on the market, she said.

"We'll know more after we see the home," she said.

If the couple decide to put the home on the market, it will sell tax free, Herman said.

No matter what he and his wife decide to do, Dornan pledges to keep playing the Y Dream Home Lottery. He said the YM/YWCA is too good a cause not to support.

In the 16 years Herman was hosted the lottery, he's never grown tired of making that phone call to the winner, he said.

"I love it."

This year's event was a sellout, said Herman. A final tally of the funds raised hasn't been completed.

The Dream Home is a product of a partnership between the Canadian Home Builders of the Central Interior, Thompson Rivers University Trades and Technology, and Sun Rivers. Building trades students did much of the foundation, framing, electrical and plumbing work.