Seven Red Deer College plumbing instructors have officially claimed their multi-million dollar lottery prize.
Jim Pollard, Dean Wigmore, Robert Baumbach, Brian Berge, Brian Stephenson, Ralph Hunter and Len Aucoin won the Lotto 6/49 worth $30 million two weeks ago.
On Nov. 17, Red Deer College plumbing instructor Jim Pollard’s regular morning quickly turned into something extraordinary. While getting ready for work, Pollard decided to check his work group’s Lotto 6/49 tickets. The morning newspaper hadn’t arrived yet, so he decided to go to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation’s web site for the Nov. 16th draw results.
“The first ticket didn’t have anything, and then I looked at the bottom line of another ticket,” he said. “The numbers all matched perfectly.” The Lotto 6/49 Quick Pick ticket matched all six numbers to win the $30 million jackpot.
Pollard double-checked the numbers and the draw date and then called his wife over. By that time, it was only 6:15 a.m. He thought that maybe he could go to work for the day and inform the other six group members when he saw them, “But I couldn’t hold it any longer. I woke them all up.”
By 7:30 a.m. the entire group was assembled at work and verified the ticket as a winner.
The group of instructors called their boss to tell her the good news. However, Aucoin had some plans for the day that even winning millions of dollars couldn’t postpone.
“I went to class and made them write a test,” he said. “Then I told them that they would all pass.”
The group rented a limo to drive them from Red Deer to the St. Albert Prize Office later that day to present the winning ticket and begin the prize claim process. The winning ticket was sold at Deer Park Co-op located at 69 Dunlop St. in Red Deer.
At the time of their prize claim, the group members were uncertain what they’d do with their newfound riches and whether or not they planned to continue teaching. Some of the newly minted millionaires have taught at the same college for 23 years.
“I’ll keep my commitment to my students,” said Aucoin, while Pollard added, “I want to make sure I’m set.”
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
