Ontario couple vows to play Lotto 6/49 for a year — then wins $2.5M jackpot
Last fall, Blaine Parrington and Evelyne Rainville made a simple pact: they'd play Lotto 6/49 every Wednesday for one year and see what happened. Six months in, the Sturgeon Falls, Ont., couple found themselves $2.5 million richer.
The couple's $3 Lotto 6/49 ticket matched the winning numbers in the April 2, 2025 Classic Draw. Their ticket was one of two that split the $5 million jackpot.
While the retirees have been casual lottery players for nearly 15 years, dabbling in both jackpot and Instant games, this was their first major win.
'I scanned our Lotto 6/49 ticket on the store's ticket checker and saw the 'Big Winner' message. When I asked the store clerk to validate our ticket, the lottery terminal froze. An OLG representative called and confirmed we'd won $2.5 million,' said Parrington.
'I was amazed and shocked. It was a feeling that can't be explained into words.'
With happy tears in his eyes, he rushed home to share the life-changing news with his loved ones.
'I was astonished,' Rainville said, recalling the moment she found out they were now millionaires.
'That afternoon, we had family over and told them about our winning ticket. Everyone was very happy for us, including our son, whom we video chatted with and sent a picture of the validation slip. It was a surreal and exceptionally overwhelming moment.'
Parrington also shared the exciting news with his daughter, whose reaction was one he won't forget.
'I reached out to my daughter, but she was busy and had to call me back,' said Parrington.
'After seeing the text message I'd sent her, she returned my call. When I answered, she was singing the Barenaked Ladies song, 'If I Had $1,000,000.' It was such a wholesome moment.'
The funny response was a reminder of how surreal this win felt for Parrington and Rainville — and how much joy it brought their entire family. With the prize now in hand, the couple is looking forward to a more relaxed and fulfilling chapter of life.
'I enjoy fishing, so I'm looking to buy a new boat,' said Parringon.
'I'd like to upgrade my car, and we'd love to plan a trip within Canada to see the Rocky Mountains,' added Rainville. 'We'll also share this prize with our children and grandchildren, complete some renovations, and make some investments for our future.'
The duo's winning numbers were 18, 26, 35, 40, 43, 47, and the ticket was purchased at RX Drug Mart on King Street in Sturgeon Falls, Ont.
Lotto 6/49 gives players a chance to win two jackpots every Wednesday and Saturday for $3 per play. The Classic Draw offers a fixed $5 million jackpot, while the Gold Ball Draw guarantees at least $1 million — or a growing jackpot that starts at $10 million and can climb past $60 million.
From a playful weekly tradition to a multi-million dollar win, Parrington and Rainville are proof that sometimes all it takes is one good idea and a little bit of luck.
Tools to stop gambling
If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
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"It's like God dumped bright colours on all the trees. Growing up in northern Ontario, it was my favourite season," wrote a fan. While Twain spent her younger years in Timmins, Ont., she now spends some of her time a bit further south, in Ontario's Muskoka cottage country. Twain reportedly has a home in Lake of Bays. Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Crawford and Gerber are frequent visitors of the Muskoka region. Last August, the supermodel showed off a carousel of photos on Instagram, including snapshots of herself and loved ones enjoying the Muskoka region. Her post included various selfies of her summer getaway, as well as pictures of herself paddleboarding, posing on her speedboat and eating delicious meals. She also included more photos of her husband, along with their two kids, 26-year-old Presley Gerber and 23-year-old Kaia Gerber. They posted an intimate sneak peek inside their Lake Muskoka cottage, nicknamed "Gerber Point Lodge." 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That year, according to iDesignArch, Justin, 31, and Hailey, 28, purchased a $5-million waterfront estate on Puslinch Lake near Cambridge, Ont. Simu Liu In July 2023, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu took to Instagram with a carousel of snaps from a vacation in Muskoka. In the sun-soaked photos from Goshulak Island, the 36-year-old actor spent time on the lake boating, jet-skiing and wakeboarding with his fiancée, Allison Hsu. In his now-deleted post, the Canadian star included a caption that was nothing short of a love letter to Goshulak Island, revealing it has been his "safe haven for over a decade." The 36-year-old Barbie actor added he "lived a lot of life and seen many things in those years, but nothing quite compares to the majesty of the lake." Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson According to Forbes, actors Goldie Hawn, 79, and Kurt Russell, 74, own property on Lake Rosseau, north of Lake Muskoka. It's where the couple have spent summer vacations with Hawn's 46-year-old daughter, Kate Hudson. In a red carpet interview with etalk at the 2023 Oscars, Hudson recalled her family's go-to pit-stop when driving up to their Northern retreat. "You got to go to Tim Hortons, and I usually just get coffee," she told Canadian TV host Tyrone Edwards. Martin Short Canadian comedian Martin Short is a big fan of Muskoka. The Only Murders in the Building star owns a cottage on Lake Rosseau and has even honoured his summer getaways in Ontario by creating a collector's coin. In 2013, the 75-year-old actor teamed up with artist Tony Bianco to create a $3 coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. The collector's item features Short's summer home, a sailboat and two Adirondack chairs. "As much as I adore the excitement of cities, it's rural Canada that has always had my heart," the Hamilton, Ont.-born star said in a press release that year. "When I'm there, I feel like I'm in heaven. More than anything, that's what Canada means to me." Mark Wahlberg and Tie Domi In August 2022, David Beckham shared a photo on Instagram posing with Canadian billionaire Jamie Salter, 63, Ted actor Mark Wahlberg, 54, and former Toronto Maple Leafs player Tie Domi, 55. In the picture, the four men flashed bright smiles for the camera and put their arms around each other. "Great few days in Muskoka," Beckham shared in the caption, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. "With family and friends. Wow, what a place. And yes, we laughed a lot and drank a little. The best." Shenae Grimes-Beech In July 2022, 90210 star Shenae Grimes-Beech shared a set of photos from her family holiday in Muskoka on her Instagram Stories. "Found a strip of pop-up shops made out of pastel-painted shipping containers in the middle of the woods. Muskoka, you're great," she captioned the first snap. The 35-year-old actress doubled down on her love for the region by sharing an additional photo of herself jet skiing, paired with the caption, "I repeat... Muskoka, you're great," alongside a Canadian flag emoji. Tom Hanks According to Forbes, Forrest Gump actor Tom Hanks has planted roots on the coastline of Lake Muskoka. The 69-year-old star owns a stunning lakeside cottage full of bay and picture windows, according to Bavarian Window Works. In the past, Hanks has shown his love for Canadians and the country's beauty. He replied to a letter from a fan in Toronto in 2016 who made a bet to see who could get a bet from a famous actor the fastest. "Toronto, huh? D— fine town," he wrote in his response, enclosed with a photo of himself. "Growing fast, all those condo towers down on the lake." Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills actress Lisa Rinna, 62, and her Clash of the Titans-starring husband, Harry Hamlin, 73, have been taking getaways to the Muskoka area for years. They've reportedly spent many summers on Governors Island in Lake Joseph, where Hamlin's family has had a cottage for more than a century. In August 2023, Rinna took to Instagram with a carousel of photos from her summer in the region that year. "Some lake life 2023," the star captioned that post, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. Fans back then shared their appreciation for the post in the comments section. "Have the same view! It's the best," wrote New York-based stylist Leslie Fremar. "You rock," a fan added. Summer McIntosh Summer McIntosh might be an Olympic-winning swimmer, but that doesn't mean she can't spend a bit of vacation time on Lake Muskoka. Following the Paris Olympics last year, the 18-year-old athlete took off to her family's cottage in the area with "the girls." The Toronto-born swimmer took to Instagram last August to share a carousel of photos with her friends enjoying the lake-side relaxation time. In the photos, the women posed on a dock wearing bikinis. "I think her favourite place is our cottage up north, she's just so excited to go there," McIntosh's mom, Jill, said last summer, according to the National Post. "She loves outdoors. She loves waterskiing. She doesn't do any swimming up there — she might do a cannon ball off the dock and that's it.
