Whole lotto luck: 2010 lottery wins create record 53 millionaires in West

An amazing run of lotto luck on the Prairies this year led to a record-breaking number of new millionaires.

"We had a record-breaking year in 2010, an amazingly record-shattering year," said Andrea Marantz of the Western Canada Lottery Corp. "We had 53 winners of $1 million or more. To put that in some kind of context, our previous record was 29."

That happened in 1993.

This year's 53 jackpots from various game draws, including Lotto 6-49 and Lotto Max, totalled more than a quarter of a billion dollars, Marantz said. That's on top of any other prizes that were handed out.

The biggest single winner was Cameron Blair, an unemployed welder from Beaumont, Alta., who won $41.7 million on April 23. Things had looked grim when he got laid off a few weeks earlier, so he bought a Lotto Max ticket to try his luck.

It was the second-largest jackpot ever paid out to an individual in Canada.

Two $1-million prizes even went to the sparsely populated Northwest Territories.

Marantz offered an explanation for the unusual winning streak.

"I think it was a combination of things. Of course, it's always luck, which is such a random thing, but the other thing was the introduction of Lotto Max, which is a game that provides more opportunities to win $1 million and more ... and that game has proved very popular in the West."

The lotto corporation said most newly minted millionaires need some time to truly think through what to do with all that cash. But some commonly heard plans include sharing money with family, paying off bills and loans, buying a new vehicle and travelling. Many winners also said they planned to give some of their windfall to charity.

And, if you haven't won yet this year, there's still time. Friday’s Lotto Max jackpot sits at $50 million and the Lotto 6-49 Christmas Day draw is for an estimated $3.5 million.

Perhaps Lady Luck will join Santa Claus on his rounds.

Working Hard to Make a Difference

December 17, 2010 -- The season of gift giving is upon us and it's a time of year when many of us pause to consider how we can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Despite the fact that in its 2010 study on wealth and wellbeing the Legatum Institute ranked Canada as the world's seventh most prosperous nation, the most recent data available from Statistics Canada indicates that after three years of decline, child poverty in our province is on the rise. Based on 2008 statistics, it estimates that one in six children in Ontario are living in poverty.

Like many of you, Greater Toronto REALTORS® are working to change this statistic. For a number of years, Members of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) have committed to supporting the REALTORS® Care Foundation through its Every REALTOR® campaign. This year, their commitment resulted in a donation of more than $357,000 to the Foundation.

Established in 1967 as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations, the REALTORS® Care Foundation makes grants on behalf of REALTORS® to shelter-based organizations throughout the province.

Through the Foundation, TREB has the opportunity to support housing-related causes in the Greater Toronto Area on an annual basis and this year, more than $178,000 was awarded to 35 different organizations. A hospice, centres for homeless youths, organizations that support those struggling with mental illness, community outreach programs, and numerous women's shelters were among the recipients.

To celebrate our mutual commitment to GTA communities, representatives from the various organizations came together November 29th at the Toronto Real Estate Board's annual Gathering For Giving reception.

The reception also featured Toronto historian Mike Filey, whose captivating anecdotes you can find in books, on radio and in the Toronto Sun.

The evening was particularly memorable because it marked the exact date of TREB's 90th anniversary. On November 29th, 1920 a small group real estate practitioners came together to establish standards in the profession. In the decades since then, we have expanded on our founders' spirit of cooperation by working together to improve the quality of life in our city's communities.

Recently for example, we made a $100,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity Toronto, which has allowed TREB to sponsor one of 29 town-home units being constructed at Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue. This initiative marks the fourth title sponsorship of seven builds to which TREB has contributed in recent years.

We work with the Toronto District School Board to provide nutritious breakfasts and snacks to 28,000 children in 16 different schools each month. We also provide grants to graduating high school students on an annual basis, to be used towards their post-secondary educations. These are just a few of the many ways we work to make a difference in our city throughout the year.

If you're thinking of buying or selling in the year ahead, you can count on the fact that your Greater Toronto REALTOR® has a genuine commitment your wellbeing, complemented by many tools and skills to guide you through the process. For more information please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com

Bill Johnston is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 30,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

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From Australia with love ......

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!

Truer words have never been spoken.

It took a lot of courage for this woman to speak what she had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least she was willing to take a stand on her and Australia 's beliefs.

The whole world needs a leader like this!

Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..

Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.. Take It Or Leave It.

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians (but not me) believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in Canada & USA , WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.