Atlantic Lottery Winners Set for Life
A couple from Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador won't need to sell their home in order to afford a comfortable retirement, after scratching their way to a lucky lotto win!
Malcolm and Gloria Mercer were seriously considering selling their home and downsizing in order to save money, but after purchasing a lucky Set for Life lottery ticket on the spur of the moment, their financial troubles are over.
The couple headed for the mall a few weeks ago, and while Gloria had her hair done, Malcolm whiled away his spare time with a cup of tea and the purchase of two Set for Life tickets.
Incredibly, one of them resulted in a $675,000 win!
Lottery Win Leads to Affordable Retirement
Malcolm Mercer, who retired eight years ago from his job as a mechanical engineer in Labrador, was stunned to see the sum won on the Set for Life scratch card.
"I didn't believe it," he told CBC in an interview.
Mercer's sister, Frances Halloran said that the couple won't need to sell their family home now.
"Now he can keep the house and do whatever he wants and enjoy his life," she said.
The couple had the choice to take home $1,000 a week for 25 years, but they chose the other alternative - a lump sum of $675,000.
Set for Life Winning Spree for Atlantic Lottery
Earlier this year, another retired couple won the Set for Life top prize, and they too opted for the $675,000 lump sump.
Mary Beaudoin and Peter O'Quinn moved to Corner Brook from Ontario to care for elderly parents.
"We knew we made the right decision to move back home," Beaudoin said at the time. "But living on seniors' pensions can be tough. This amount of money will make retirement a whole lot more comfortable for all of us."
Atlantic Canada is particularly lucky with Set for Life scratch tickets. In 2012 alone, five top prizes were awarded, and two of the top four prizes in 2013 were won by residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
