Seven plumbing instructors from Red Deer College are celebrating their new millionaire status after picking up a cheque for $30 million dollars on Thursday, the sixth largest jackpot ever won in our province.
The group has been trying their lotto luck for about the last three years, but were in disbelief when they realized they actually had the winning numbers.
"I had to look about 3, 4, 5 times," said Jim Pollard. "I kept looking, I couldn't believe it. And then I had to check the date. I checked the date, and that matched too."
Pollard then told his wife, but hesitated before telling his six fellow teachers.
"I kind of contemplated, do I wait and not tell these guys 'til the end of the school day? We still had to teach our students!"
All seven winners ended up finding out that morning and showed up to class. They didn't end up doing much teaching, though.
"I went up to the blackboard and got my big black marker and I marked right on the board, 'I won,'" recalled Len Aucoin. "The student says 'Len what did you win? I said 'oh a bit of change...$30 million. 'Holy crap,' they said!"
Alberta's newest millionaires say they're still not sure what they'll be doing with the money. Some are using it to pay off mortgages, others are looking at new cars, and Aucoin will be using some of his newfound wealth to do something that hasn't been possible in more than two decades.
"Last night I went online, I got kids in Ontario. I've got 3 grandkids, I've got 14 kids coming to visit us for Christmas, the first time in 25 years!"
Each of the seven winners will be walking away with with 4.3 million dollars. Four of the seven winners plan on retiring at the end of the spring semester, and even though three of them say they'll continue teaching at Red Deer College next year, their friends are doubtful.
"Jim said he'd stay another 6 years until his son was out of school. So I bet him a million dollars he wouldn't be," said Brian Stephenson with a laugh.
With files from Ross Neitz, Global News
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.