Condo contest winner couldn't believe his luck
Toronto Star
02/11/02

New owner thought prize was a microwave

When Al Conocchioli got the call from Tridel senior vice-president of sales Jim Ritchie that he'd won a prize in (N5R) an online contest, the 58-year-old engineer figured he was getting a new microwave.

But what he'd won was a lot more than a small kitchen appliance. In fact, Conocchioli had won a new kitchen as part of his grand prize, a 648-square-foot condo at The Icon.

Now, nearly two years since he got the good news, Conocchioli's third-floor suite at Tridel and Dorsay's Icon on Wellington St. W. at Blue Jays Way is finished. Tridel and Dorsay staff presented him with the keys at a recent ceremony at The Icon sales office.

"The suite is gorgeous," says Conocchioli. "It's one bedroom and you have the main living room and the kitchen together and the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bedroom is smaller, but comfortable."

Conocchioli, a married father of two grown children, says his $160,000 condo is now worth about $194,000 according to sales staff. But he has no plans to sell the suite, although he won't be living in it, either. Eventually, he'll rent it.

He won the condo in February, 2000, after entering Tridel's online real estate contest, which attracted 30,000 entries and more than 4 million hits.

Conocchioli, who owns a home in North York, says he won't be moving anytime soon.

He invested in a $20,000 parking spot at Icon and is also responsible for monthly maintenance of $265, plus municipal taxes.

"I've never won anything," says Conocchioli.