Dominion man wins big lotto prize
It’s understandable that Jeff Lawson was feeling somewhat exuberant last weekend.
After all, the 38-year-old Dominion man had just discovered he had won a cool million dollars in Saturday’s Lotto 649 guaranteed draw.
Hence his excitement and decision to post a Facebook link to the iconic Barenaked Ladies song “If I Had A Million Dollars,” recorded by the Canadian band in 1992.
“Yeah, I’ve been celebrating a little,” admitted a hoarse-sounding Lawson, in a telephone interview with the Cape Breton Post a few days after his win. “I had just come home from a party at my buddy’s on Saturday night, maybe early Sunday, and I just checked my ticket and it was it.”
But even then he had his father read the numbers back to him for confirmation. And, yes, he had still won.
He next contacted the Atlantic Lottery Corporation office and they also confirmed he had the winning ticket.
“So I called the headquarters in Moncton and she said ‘I hope you’re sitting down, Mr. Lawson, you’re a millionaire.’”
Although he hasn’t had a lot of time to digest the reality of winning one million dollars, Lawson said he has no intention of making any drastic changes in his life.
The residential care worker, who has spent the past 13 years at the Breton Ability Centre in Sydney River, said while he’s taken some time off this week he plans to continue working.
Asked about how he would spend some of his windfall, his reply was succinct and without hesitation.
“I’ll be helping out my family and my friends,” he said.
And on his Facebook page, there wasn’t a negative or jealous comment to be found.
Among the numerous congratulatory messages was the following gem of a post from Roberta Gillis: “You can have the good Kraft Dinner now.”
Lawson was scheduled to claim his prize Friday in Moncton. He plans to stay in New Brunswick for the weekend.
He believes it appears he purchased the winning ticket at the Needs convenience store in Dominion, although he admitted to purchasing another ticket at a Grand Lake Road service station.