Canadian couple retiring sooner than planned after major lottery win
For one Canadian couple, a major lottery win means financial freedom and the option to retire much sooner than they anticipated.
Amedee and Deborah Larade live in Chéticamp, N.S., a small fishing community of just a few thousand residents. The couple undoubtedly made waves in their hometown after discovering they had won the lottery.
“We had a free ticket we had won on the last draw that I checked, and as soon as I scanned it, the screen went white and said it was a major prize winner,” Amedee recalled. “When I saw the screen, my heart started pounding.”
That free ticket had certainly been lucky for the couple, as the winning ticket netted them the $1-million prize in the Lotto 6/49 draw on March 1.
Excited to share the life-changing news with his wife, Amedee rushed home and asked Deborah to sit down.
“I could hear his voice quivering, so I asked him if I should call 911,” Deborah said. “He said, ‘No, this is good news!'”
Irish Mae Silvestre/Daily Hive
While at the Atlantic Lottery head office to claim their winnings, the couple said they won’t be retiring immediately, but the win has moved their retirement plans up. The Larades have no immediate plans for their $1-million windfall, but they said it will provide them with financial freedom.
“This gives us the option to do different things if we choose to,” Deborah said. “We’re very
easy-going, but if we want to do renovations or take a trip, we’ll have the financial backup to do it.”
For Amedee, the win still feels surreal.
Atlantic Lottery
“Right now, I’m still in a dream,” he said. “I feel like somebody’s going to come tap me on
the shoulder and say, ‘Wake up, you’re just dreaming.'”
The Larades purchased their winning ticket at the H. Cormier Petro-Canada in Chéticamp, N.S. The retailer will receive a seller’s prize of one per cent.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.