INSIDE: Gearing up for Vaisakhi celebrations in Abbotsford Pg. 12-13 T U E S D A Y
April 10, 2012
3 N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
Hero grandma saves family from house fire
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School’s the pits for teens
E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
EASTER EGG HUNT SOME BUNNY TO LOVE
All 10 escape after she sounds the alarm ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
Brar, who translated on behalf of Kulwant. “But it’s overwhelming. There’s bbotsford grandmother Kul- joy and grief as well.” want Brar is being hailed as Kulwant was awakened by some a hero by her relatives and noise, probably by the fire alarm the fire department after raising before the wiring in the garage the alarm as a fire tore through the was burned out by the fire, said family home Saturday night. Sukhjiwan. The entire extended family – 10 She heard strange sounds in all including a toddler and a coming from the garage but no three-month-old baby – escaped footsteps in the house. Worthe blaze safely after ried someone might Kulwant got up to be breaking into the explore odd noises “. . . it’s overhouse, Kulwant went a n d d i s c o v e r e d whelming. There’s down to investigate. flames in the garage When she opened of the house in the joy and grief as the door she discover 31800 block of Mayne flames ripping through well.” Avenue. the garage and alerted “My mother-inone of her sons who law is a hero. She – Nav Brar family friend ran through the house saved everybody,” to wake everyone. said Sukhjiwan Brar, “We were out of the the eldest daughter-in-law while house in minutes,” said Sukhjiholding her young daughter in wan. her arms. “We didn’t have time to think.” But the family matriarch was Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service in tears Monday morning as she Deputy Chief Mike Helmer said surveyed her blackened home and Kulwant’s actions prevented her thought about what might have family from being overcome by happened to her husband, sons smoke from the fire. and their wives and children if she “She did exactly what she had not woken up. should,” said Helmer, adding the “She’s thankful her family see FIRE, page A10 escaped,” said family friend Nav
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– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Gabriel Valladares is decked out in bunny ears as he waits for the annual Easter Egg Hunt to begin Sunday at Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission. For more adorable photos, see our photo gallery at www.abbotsfordtimes.com.
Very good Friday for Abbotsford’s latest millionaire
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or the person who bought the $30-million winning Lotto Max ticket in Abbotsford, the Good Friday holiday has taken on a whole new meaning. Someone who purchased their ticket somewhere in Abbotsford managed to match seven out of seven winning numbers for the April 6
Lotto max draw: 15 18 19 25 32 42 49. The bonus number was 43. The lucky winner won’t be officially announced or able to claim the jackpot prize until the B.C. Lottery Corporation office opens Tuesday morning following the Easter weekend closure, said BCLC spokesman Chris
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Fairclough. The ticket holder has a year to claim the prize. People often wait some time to absorb a big win before coming forward, but it’s likely the Abbotsford customer won’t wait long, said Fairclough.
“I imagine the lucky winner has already heard and people who bought tickets in Abbotsford are excitedly checking the prize.” The largest prize won in B.C. was a $50 million Lotto Max jackpot in October, 2010. – ROCHELLE BAKER/TIMES
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