'Win A Baby' Contest In Ottawa Gets Results

The Huffington Post Canada  |  By   |  Posted: 03/29/2012 4:57 pm

An Ottawa radio station's controversial contest has come up with just the results they hoped for -- at least one baby.

The 'Win A Baby' contest held by Hot 89.9 last year announced today that one of their couples, Natasha and Ryan Derouchie, are expecting a child. The contest had offered three in-vitro fertilization treatments to entrants who most impressed them with a 100-word essay, but decided at the last minute to give the $35,000 treatment to all five finalists they'd chosen.

The contest sparked reactions across the globe, as those opposed to it decried the notion of having to tell their child he or she was 'won' in a competition, and others lauded Hot 89.9 for giving this expensive opportunity to a couple who may not otherwise have it.

The official announcement took place Thursday morning, when this was posted on the station's Twitter feed:


The New HOT 89.9
Huge CONGRATS to Natasha & Ryan! They came to the HOT studios six months ago for WIN A Baby & now they're expecting!

Huge CONGRATS to Natasha & Ryan! They came to the HOT studios six months ago for WIN A Baby & now they're expecting! http://t.co/n0QTCTAu

While pictures that include posing with the 'Win Me' poster (like the one above) were part of a column mocking the contest in The Ottawa Citizen, it's hard to argue with the glee expressed on Natasha Derouchie's Twitter feed, or the number of listeners who wrote in to say they cried when they heard the news.

So will it be five for five for Hot 89.9? The odds are, unfortunately, not in their favour, but hopefully the station will take that opportunity to shed more light on a topic that many are too embarrassed to discuss in public.

SEE: These celebrities went through fertility treatments -- and weren't afraid to talk about it:

FOLLOW PARENTS

 
 
  • Comments
  • 3
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
NWmom
12:47 PM on 03/30/2012
I think this is wonderful! I have two close friends who both had to turn to invitro to conceive their children. One couple had to take out a second mortgage on their home to finance the procedure and the other couple had to put it on a personal loan. Kudos to the radio station for running this contest and helping these families!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
10:40 PM on 03/29/2012
"decried the notion of having to tell their child he or she was 'won' in a competition"

The child wasn't won in a competition - an otherwise cost prohibitive fertility treatment was won. The parents desperately wanted a kid but couldn't have one, but when they won the opportunity, they finally got one. I fail to see what anyone could be complaining about.
08:16 PM on 03/29/2012
The fact that these treatments cost so much to begin with is outrageous. I see nothing wrong with this contest, in fact if these couples were having difficulty and were able to get help then it is a good thing