Workers win the lottery one day after being laid off

Aug 16, 2011, 10:10 pm (24 comments)

Canada 6/49

Group of manufacturing employees will split $7 million prize

Includes video report

OTTAWA, Canada — In Canada, a group of employees at an Ottawa manufacturing plant say they won the $7 million Lotto 6/49 prize Wednesday, the same day their company announced massive layoffs.

Eighteen employees at SMART technologies — including 10 who got layoff notices on Wednesday — were part of the group of winners, according to Colin Willard, one of the ticket holders.

Willard, who worked at SMART for seven years, was balancing phones on each ear Thursday as news broke about the group's winning ticket.

He had only returned to work last week after a bad back kept him away for six months, and said the layoff notice shocked him.

It was Thursday morning in the company parking lot where he was the first to discover the win.

"I started to shake, vibrate in my seat, and then I had to get out and tell some of the people that were in, and no one believed me," said Willard.

Friend and co-worker Tony Mather joined him for a celebratory drink of scotch Thursday.

The men said they were excited, but realistic about the lottery earnings and where the money will go.

"We all know that $400,000 doesn't make you rich. That comfort zone for the rest of your life is the nice story," said the 50-year-old Mather.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation confirmed Thursday that the winning ticket in the previous night's lottery was shared by a group of people from Ottawa.

A spokesperson with the lottery corporation said the winners will have to go through a verification process when they come to claim the ticket.

Willard said the group will travel to Toronto Friday to confirm their win.

SMART technologies said Wednesday it was laying off 200 employees at the assembly plant on Palladium Drive. The assembly plant employs about 300 people.

The company, which has its headquarters in Calgary, said it was shifting its manufacturing to Mexico.

CBC News

Comments

CashWinner$

Congratulations!

400 Gs would definately put me in the-zone!

Sun Smiley

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Two hundred people laid off at that plant?

The lawyers will be swarming for the claims of the other employees who were "supposed to be included" in that group.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Congatulations to the winners, but I feel bad for the rest of the people who will be jobless. I've been there. It is NOT fun.

Once again, bigger share holder profits in the form of cheap foreign labor, take precedence over the welfare of the working people.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Joyful experience for 18 people (and those closest to them) in Canada! Party

diamondpalace's avatardiamondpalace

Great news.

Trillionaire

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Aug 16, 2011

Two hundred people laid off at that plant?

The lawyers will be swarming for the claims of the other employees who were "supposed to be included" in that group.

The 18 lucky winners have already picked up their checks, and surprisingly, no one else from the plant said that they were entitled to a share.

cloud9's avatarcloud9

Very AWSOME guys Congratulations to u 18 lucky winners!!!Hurray!Like i always say u got to b in it to win it!!!Stretch

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to all the winners, my prayers for the rest of the people laid off, I hope they get back on their feet soon.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congrats to all the winners!!!!! my heart & prayers go out to the rest of the employees that were laid off. My husband loss his job of 12 1/2 years on December 22, 2006 to plant closure, ironically that plant moved to Mexico as well.......

Tenaj's avatarTenaj

Hurray!It could not come at a better time.  Congratulations to them!

surimaribo24's avatarsurimaribo24

well if you know how to invest that 400k then hell yeh it will make you richer.

guess they pick the right person to laid off due something big was coming their way.

im happy they won . god bless .

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

USAcongrats to the 18 people who won!!  my heart and praers go out to the people getting laid-off. as far as this company taking it bussiness to Mexico for less costly larbor......I love this quote from Project Runway  " today you are in tommorrow you're out'"  so the best thing here woulld be found this company competitor if it work is still done in USA buy from them!!!

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Aug 17, 2011

Congrats to all the winners, my prayers for the rest of the people laid off, I hope they get back on their feet soon.

Yea, another episode of some quick responding "lottery fairies" coming to the rescue of a bunch of adults being laid off ... pushed into that 'sea of long-term despair!'

Bliss!

Coffee

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Aug 17, 2011

USAcongrats to the 18 people who won!!  my heart and praers go out to the people getting laid-off. as far as this company taking it bussiness to Mexico for less costly larbor......I love this quote from Project Runway  " today you are in tommorrow you're out'"  so the best thing here woulld be found this company competitor if it work is still done in USA buy from them!!!

Looks like we may see Americans sneaking over the Mexican border to get jobs if this keeps up.

Wonder how Mexico would like that?

They'd probably finish the fence themselves.

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