 Marie and Kirby Fontaine from Sagkeeng First Nation laugh at a news conference where they picked up a $50-million cheque for picking the winning numbers in a recent Lotto Max draw in Winnipeg, Tuesday, November 10, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
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WINNIPEG — Only a week ago, Kirby and Marie Fontaine were battling health problems and poverty.
Those battles will be easier after winning $50 million in the Lotto Max lottery — one of the biggest jackpots in Canadian history.
The last few days have been overwhelming for the couple, who came forward to claim their prize Tuesday and sometimes found themselves at a loss for words as they faced a row of television cameras
The Fontaines live in a mobile home on the Sagkeeng First Nation northeast of Winnipeg.
Kirby suffered a stroke last winter and could no longer work. His wife continued her job in a personal care home in nearby Pine Falls, Man., but with two children, money was tight.
“My community, everybody, prayed for me,” he recalled as he fought back tears. “Ten months ago, I was...”
Overcome by emotion, he couldn’t finish the sentence.
Down to his last $10, he bought a lottery ticket last week. But unbeknownst to him, his wife had bought one as well. They were stunned when they found out Marie’s ticket was worth $50 million.
“Oh my God, I can’t say what I was saying,” Marie joked Tuesday. “But I was yelling for my husband that we’d won.”
“It was ‘Holy S’ and ‘Holy F,’ you know,” Kirby replied with a laugh, keeping his language clean for the cameras.
The couple beat astronomical odds. The chance of winning the jackpot was one in 28 million, lottery officials said.
The couple’s most immediate plan is to get Kirby rehabilitative care to recover from his stroke. He can’t use his left arm and walks with a cane.
They also want to build a dream home and travel the world, which will be a big change for two people who have never ventured further than Calgary.
But they say they will remain the same people.
“We’re just regular people like everybody else,” Marie said.
“We’re normal. We like McDonald’s, A&W, you know,” Kirby said. “I still like to barbecue. I’m a one-armed man, but I have all my family support. They come and help me prep everything and I cook.”
The couple haven’t really celebrated yet — they don’t drink, so there have been no popping corks. Kirby is intent on finding some way to thank Marie for being by his side for 21 years.
“I love my wife. She’s been with me from Day 1,” he said. “I can’t imagine someone going through this, but with the love and support that I’ve had from my wife, thick and thin, my family and her family ... it’s overwhelming.”.“
The two never need to work again, but say they would like to volunteer and give back to their community. The drive to help others is one reason Kirby is intent on getting his health back.
“I am going to walk again, I really strongly believe that, and use my left arm.”
