Played same numbers for 21 years
After realizing he had won $7 million in a Canada Lotto 6/49 draw three weeks ago, Eddie Uy of Richmond, British Columbia, did what not many big lottery winners would do.
He ate his breakfast, packed a lunch, as usual, and went to work at the Burnaby cardboard-box factory where he has been employed for the last 19 years.
Uy, 59, actually waited three weeks before letting British Columbia Lottery Corp. know he was the winner of the Aug. 3 jackpot, but he won't let it change his life.
"I'm still working," he told The Province on Wednesday after picking up his winnings.
"I won't retire until I'm 65 or 67."
Uy describes himself as a patient man.
He is single, lives with his brother and mother and hasn't made any immediate plans for a big vacation.
He plans to save most of the $7 million for his eventual retirement.
"I might buy a bigger house," he said.
Uy said he feels "excellent," and noted he was born in the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese calendar.
"It just so happens that this year is the Year of the Rabbit — that's my year," he said.
He likes going out to restaurants and enjoys watching movies.
"Life is so simple," Uy chuckled.
"If I retire right now, what about my health?" he wondered.
"Maybe my health will go bad, or something like that. How would I be able to enjoy the $7 million?"
Uy, who bought the winning ticket at the Chevron gas station at No. 2 Road and Westminster Highway in Richmond, has played the same 6/49 numbers since coming to Canada from his native China in 1990 — 6, 17, 21, 28, 31, 38.
Asked how he planned to celebrate his great fortune with friends and family Wednesday night, Uy replied, "I have no idea.
"I have to go back to work tomorrow."
Uy was joined at Lottery Corp. headquarters by a group of 22 workmates from Rempel Bros. Concrete in Langley, who split a $3.3 million jackpot in the Lotto 6/49 draw on Aug. 24.
Each member of the syndicate received a cheque for $149,000.
Wayne Vander-Hoek is the organizer of his group lottery pool.
"I got a call telling me that our group had won," said Vander-Hoek. "I didn't know whether to laugh or start crying."
Their winning ticket was bought at Red Apple Grocery on Marshal Road in Abbotsford.
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Thanks to Starr920 for the tip.
I'm really happy that he won, but 21 years? wow, well he won and that's what's important.
If I'm ever in Canada I'll play for sure,I love that they don't get taxed.
FYI they will too tax you on your win!!!! Canada has a tax treaty with the US and they will collect the tax for your UNCLE SAM before you get paid!!!!!
If you want things to be the same ................... WHY PLAY ?!
Congratulations Mr. Uy,
You played the same numbers for 21 years and
now, after hitting it big, nothing will change - somehow I don't think that's gonna happen.
Maybe he's still in shock and doesn't realize he is now a rich man.
His name, face, and place of work are now public knowledge - the scam artists will come a knocking.
Family and so-called friends will come outta the woodwork and co-workers will resent his work ethic.
IMO it's time to move away, start over and, good grief, join a gym if he's so worried about his health
Mr Uy is apparently a simple man who likes his job and his simple life.
I hope people will allow him to continue living his simple life the way he wants, unbothered.
But somehow I doubt that they will.
I think it is a bit selfish to keep your job after winning such a jackpot when so many people are looking for a work.
It would be nice to give the unemployed people a chance to earn a living. I know I'd be more than willing to resign from my job if I hit.
When you have $7,000,000 you can pretty much do anything you want.
He wants to work cuz that's what he enjoys.
I don't think he owes anybody his job anymore than he owes them some of his money just because he's now rich.
Just my opinion.
have any one had a dream of winning the lottery ?????????????????/ i have~ so iam going to keep playin so~ i can win because i really, really want to win in jesus name amen/ if i dont the Lord is still good
who want some of my money when i win???????????????????
Even better. Quit his job so another person who needs it can have it. Then start a company doing something you love or invest in a company that does somthing you love and REALLY enjoy life. Oh and maybe by investing in the company you love they can HIRE a few more employees!
The way I see it, TOO many people with this kind of money are doing NOTHING with it. Instead of gambling, uh, I mean investing in the stock market - PUT your money to REAL USE. Start a company or invest in one! That is one of the BEST 'Jobs Progams' we could have.
You are also right, he does NOT OWE anyone his job, and has every right to keep working.
I guess I just dont understand why he would do that (keep the job) if he now has the opportunity to do so much MORE than just his job. There is too much that the world has to offer than work for someone else.
I agree, I wouldn't do it myself but to each his own.
I'd be out ramblin' and gamblin' but you can look at Mr Uy and see he ain't the ramblin' gamblin' type.
He just wants to maintain his simple lifestyle while having financial security and I hope he's able to do that.
Agreed.
Big congratulations Eddie Uy, follow your heart and enjoy life to its fullest!
It's just another example that money isn't everything, how you live your life and treat ppl adds the most richness to your life.
Congratulations Mr.Uy, you deserve it!
played same numbers for 21 years...that is some dedication
Congratulations! Good for you!
Yes, you are a very patient guy! More than I could ever be
If & when I ever win BIG, I hope I follow-through using my brain!
"how you live your life and treat ppl adds the most richness to your life."
Roger that.
Your suggestion of financing or overseeing a company is ALSO a form of BIG gambling, with even chance of complete monetary loss.
I realize that you can't get a permanent residence visa in a lot of the more desirable countries (e.g., Ecuador) unless you commit to spending a couple hundred-thousand dollars within that country, and employ ONLY the natives. Consequently, several people are becoming "builders." The main problem is that once they hire "builder employees/workers," those workers DRAAAAAG out a job. Plus, the game continues on a hiked up level the moment that the business owner leaves their foreign country home, or the country, to travel -- that's when the 'workers' CEASE working [truly, sometimes for a few months, there is no shame felt].
Anyhow, to those who are the most daring ... proceed, with caution, all investments should be viewed as a form of gambling! Sometimes the "contractor supervisor" you hire is in on the gig too! That's why their houses are taking 4-5 times longer than necessary to be built and usually took more than one crew and supervisor after multiple firings and weedings-out. Oh, and the costs charged to you are also 2-3 times larger. This appears to be a stressful lifestyle, may be a bit less so for someone who KNOWS how to build big houses and observes at the jobsite Mondays through Fridays until each house is built though. [Or requires that their supervisor send weekly project update photos].
Congrats to Mr. UY, he looks like a real sweet guy.
i would keep the job it for a short while if it helped hide the fact that i was the winner.
To be honest with you, I wouldn't change much if I won either. I'd plan to stay in the same neighborhood, and I really like my job.*
My children are still fairly young (under 10). I'd like them to grow up living a fairly "normal" life, watching their parents go to work every day, knowing that they will be expected to be responsible and work hard when they grow up as well.
I wouldn't want my kids to know that I was wealthy, as I wouldn't want them to turn into some sort of "rich kid stereotype." (No way would I raise a Paris Hilton-esque kid!)
It would be nice to have the financial security - that's what I would dream of...not living a flashy lifestyle.
I guess I had a good example in my parents. My dad built a successful business from the ground up and made some good investments. I discovered as an adult that my parents are quite well-off, but no one would guess that by knowing them. My dad drove the same pickup truck for 10 years (and probably would have continued to drive it longer if someone hadn't rear-ended him). They live in the same modest farmhouse my dad lived in as a child. They don't buy a bunch of stuff they don't need, etc.
* I'd consider going to medical school if I won, because I'd like to be able to help people. Perhaps work in a free clinic or something like that...since I wouldn't "need" a certain salary to pay off school loans or anything like that. But if I didn't do that, I'd really consider staying at my current job.
I love this story. It encourages me to keep playing my special set of numbers. I know lottery is random, but this gives me a little bit of hope.