Darren Boutlier discovered his dad wasn’t dying after all and his girlfriend had won $2.5 million dollars.
He learned both these things on the same date, after a long day lobstering in St. Margarets Bay last Thursday.
It all happened in quick order, shortly after his crew began steaming to shore. Boutlier’s girlfriend, Leisa Coolen, was beside herself when she called to share the stunning news. Her Atlantic Lottery Mult-Millionaire scratch ticket was a $2.5 million winner.
Boutlier thought he was being pranked and told his partner he’d be home shortly. His dad, Marshall Boutlier, who’d been let in on the news in short order, was waiting for his son at the wharf.
“It was like he’d won the lottery,” said Darren, recalling the best day of his life. “I knew then itwas true.”
His dad also informed him that his cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was suddenly deemed curable. Marshall had gotten the news earlier that day, two months after being told by his doctor the cancer was untreatable and he had two years to live.
“What a day for all of us,” said Darren. “He was so happy for us.”
As for Coolen, she’s still a little beside herself over her good fortune. The couple were surrounded by family and friends during the cheque presentation event on Thursday in Hubbards. Coolen’s not quite ready to quit her job at Sheila’s Too, a seasonal roadside chip wagon in Hubbards.
“I’m slowly going to ease out of it. We’ve worked hard our whole lives. Right now it’s very surreal and it’s hard to make sense of how much money this is.”
Coolen, who has two kids and three grandchildren, has no extravagant plans thus far. She says the money will give her and her family more opportunity. Boutlier and Coolen will remain in the same modest house. She plans to buy apool, a new car sometime soon, but has yet to decide on a model. Boutlier plans to purchase a Chevy truck.
Coolen had just gotten paid when she bought the $30 scratch ticket on a whim last Thursday. She remembers joking about her expensive purchase with the Hubbards store worker.
“I told her this better be a winner because it cost $30,” recalled Coolen with a laugh.
Coolen waited till she got home before she pulled out the ticket and soon discovered she was a winner.
“When I realized I won I was crying, jumping up and down. I figured, why not? I was home alone and no one could hear me.”
That’s when she called her boyfriend.
“I couldn’t wait for Darren to get home.”
Her current employer happens to be her boyfriend’s mother, Sheila. Her boss couldn’t be happier, even if she’s about to lose a faithful employee of nine years.
“I told Leisa that she’s going to have to start paying me until she retires, instead of the other way around,” said Sheila with a laugh. “We’re just really happy for them. They’re a great couple and life just got a lot easier for them.”
