Fort Simpson (Jan 12/07) - Depending on how you look at it, Deborah McPherson just received a late or a very early Christmas present.

McPherson, a resident of Fort Simpson, won a nation-wide contest run by Northern Stores and Piller's, a company that makes smoked and cooked meats. Called the Payday Promo, the prize was a $5,000 shopping spree at the Northern.

Deborah McPherson, centre, accepts her $5,000 prize from Lora Holland, left, the deli manager, and Sherry Kean, the Northern Store manager in Fort Simpson. She won a Canada-wide contest sponsored by the business. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Both the win and the prize came as a surprise to McPherson.

She remembers entering the contest while waiting in the store for her husband, who had forgotten something at home. While she was passing time, she saw the draw box and filled out a contest form.

"Every time I see a contest I put my name in," she said.

Until now luck hasn't been on her side. McPherson said she had never before won a draw like this one.

When Sherry Kean, the Northern Store manager in the village, phoned to tell her the good news on Jan. 4, McPherson thought she had only won a package of deli meat because the draw box had been beside the deli section. When McPherson realized what she had won, she screamed into the phone.

"Five thousand dollars I kept saying," she said, remembering her response.

The prize comes in the form of a $5,000 gift card that is good for anything in the store, not just deli items.

McPherson's chances of winning the draw were rather slim. Her name had to be picked twice.

The contest ran in all Northern Stores from November to Dec. 2, said Sherry Kean. At the end of the contest each store picked one entry and sent it to the national office, where a second draw was held. There are more than 200 stores nation-wide.

"It's exciting when someone in your store wins nationally," said Kean.

Kean, who had found out the winner's name the day before it was announced publicly, said she had a hard time keeping it a secret.

"What a way to start a new year," said Kean.

With the prize money McPherson plans to buy a new rifle for her husband Fred McPherson.