Recent Canadian lottery winners are celebrating life-changing jackpots, with stories of excitement and plans for their newfound wealth.
One notable win came from 19-year-old Matin Kelidisian from Aurora, Ontario, who won $1,430,311 in the December 21 Lottario draw after just three months of playing. Kelidisian, who regularly purchases tickets for Lottario, Ontario 49, Lotto Max, and Lotto 6/49, was thrilled when he had his ticket validated. “I went to the store to have my ticket validated. When I saw the prize amount, I immediately started running around the store. With pure joy, I screamed, ‘I won! I won!’ The other customers were looking at me like I was crazy, but I didn’t care!” he recalled with excitement.
Kelidisian's joy was shared with his family as he quickly called his parents to share the news. “I called my parents, who were out shopping at the time, and said, ‘Mom! Dad! I won the lottery! Come quick!’ They dropped everything and got to me within 10 minutes,” he described. His mother’s reaction was especially touching, as she cried tears of joy upon hearing about the win.
Having only previously confided in his parents, sister, and girlfriend, Kelidisian plans to share his good fortune with more friends once he has the cheque. “I can’t wait to see my friend’s reactions when I tell them!” he expressed. His immediate plans for the winnings include helping his parents with bills and their mortgage, paying off his sister’s student loans, and investing for the future. He also looks forward to his first trip outside of Canada, planning to visit the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Brampton construction worker Jagmohan Dhillon had his own moment of disbelief when he discovered he’d won $1 million Maxmillions from the December 3 Lotto Max draw. Dhillon, who had been playing the lottery for 15 years, felt overwhelmed with emotion when he checked his tickets. “When I saw the prize amount, I was so happy I nearly cried. It was crazy moment,” Dhillon said. He plans to use his winnings to pay off his mortgage.
Adding to the wave of good fortune, Ute Schram from Paris, Ontario, celebrated winning $217,400 from the January 17 Lotto Max second prize draw just two weeks before her retirement. “This has been an out-of-body experience,” she told OLG. “It was very exciting. My husband was sitting across from me, so I said, ‘You have to see this!’ We were both thrilled.” Her plans include traveling and setting up educational funds for her grandchildren.
Meanwhile, Ottawa maintenance worker Ricardo Wilson-Duguay made headlines for winning $100,000 by matching the last six of seven Encore numbers during the January 15 Lotto 6/49 draw. Wilson-Duguay found out he won when checking his tickets online at home. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought to myself, ‘Wow. That’s a big number,’” he remarked. After confirming his win with his roommate, Wilson-Duguay celebrated with a toast. His intentions for his winnings include paying off his car and helping those in need within his community.
These remarkable stories from across Canada remind us of the life-altering possibilities presented by lottery wins. Whether paying off debts, helping family, or planning vacations, each winner’s story showcases how these unexpected jackpots can bring happiness and hope. So, as the Lotto Max and other lottery draws continue, players are encouraged to check their tickets—you could be the next big winner!