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Lottery luck for Ottawa barber and his longtime client

by yuls.source | July 3, 2008 at 08:43 pm | 172 views | add comment

The $32 million Lotto 6/49 cash prize is to be shared between Mike Detorre, an Ottawa barber, and his longtime client Samir Haddad. The two men played lottery together for quite some time but have never won big until this Saturday. What is amazing is that Samir Haddad has been using Mike Detorre’s services for almost 40 years. Sharing a lottery ticket was a kind of a tip from Haddad to Detorre. As such, a sixteen-million-dollar tip just might be the largest one ever given to a barber!

Haddad says although the reality of becoming a millionaire is yet to sink in, he is happy he can push any money worries aside.

"It's not the idea that whatever you want you can go and buy it now; it's just that you can relax," he said.

The winning ticket was a quick pick bought on the day of the draw from the Ottawa South Grocery on Sunnyside Avenue.

"It just happened to be my day Saturday night," Haddad told CTV Ottawa on Thursday.

Detorre has since closed his barber shop and is taking a break from the limelight.

"According to him, now whoever wanted the place can get it for nothing, just come and get the keys," Haddad said, referring to Detorre's barbershop.

Both men say they plan to share their winnings with close family and friends.