‘I did it': Ontario woman almost misses out on cashing in for $5M lottery win
A woman from a small Ontario town came within days of missing out on claiming a lottery jackpot worth $5 million, according to OLG.
Ontario's lottery agency said Beachville resident Connie Christie normally checks her tickets once a month although sometimes she forgets.
Luckily for Christie, OLG issued a release on April 17, reminding people to check their tickets as a lottery windfall worth $5 million had gone unclaimed and would soon expire if not claimed. Players have a year from the date of a draw to claim winning tickets or they expire.
Christie heard the news on a local radio station about the ticket being sold at a gas station in nearby Woodstock.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'When I heard the details, I turned to my mom and said, 'I have a feeling that's my ticket!,' Christie told OLG while in Toronto claiming her winnings. 'After dropping my mom off, I went home and checked my tickets using the OLG app.
Story continues below advertisement
'I saw the 'Big Winner' message and put my phone down to pause for moment. Then took another look. I managed to stay calm, thinking, 'I did it!' It was a great feeling.'
Christie, who works in logistics, said her the following morning her family was wondering why she had gathered them together for a chat.
'Everyone was speculating about what I wanted to tell them,' she said. 'I had the winning numbers pulled up on my laptop when my kids guessed, 'Did you win the lottery?' My answer was, 'Yes, and it's a life-changing changing prize — $5 million!'
'We sat there in silence, and I could see the wheels turning in all their heads as I shared proof of my win.'
Christie plans to retire and would like her husband to do the follow suit so they can do some travelling.
'I plan to retire, and I want my husband to do the same. We can now spend our time doing what we love and enjoying our time together,' Connie beamed. 'I'd also like to treat my husband to a scenic road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
32 minutes ago
- Global News
Danielle Smith pitches B.C. on pipeline project, saying it benefits ‘all Canadians'
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is making a pipeline pitch directly to British Columbians. Smith told Global News that Canada needs to take advantage of this moment of national unity to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats. 'When you look at the potential for a million barrels a day at today's prices, that's about 20 billion dollars worth of value,' Smith told Focus BC. 'It doesn't just go to Alberta, it benefits all Canadians.' Smith is leaning on the Team Canada approach but does acknowledge that there still need to be work to address Indigenous concerns. 'We hear the environmental concerns and that is why it is good to have Indigenous partners so we can reroute the route, and deal with issues on the ground,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'I know a few things need to be modified, but we can get to yes.' 2:01 Pipeline dream: Alberta premier makes pitch at Global Energy Show There is still no proponent for the pipeline project but the previous iteration of a pipeline to the coast destroyed the relationship with then Alberta Premier Alison Redford and then B.C. Premier Christy Clark. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Smith said the difference this time is the vision to export the material out of Prince Rupert, rather than Kitimat, where navigating tankers is harder. 'Let's go to a port that is already shipping goods, that is ice-free year-round,' she added. B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the province is opposed to the new pipeline and instead, Alberta should focus on building out the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, which already cost taxpayers more than $34 billion. Story continues below advertisement 'We still need to get some work to get value for that pipeline,' Dix said. 'We have been supportive of that now that taxpayers have paid for it. The idea that taxpayers would subsidize a project that has no proponent makes no sense to us.' Watch the full interview with Smith above.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Owner of iconic La Ronge business grapples with wildfire decimation
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The iconic Robertson's Trading Post in La Ronge, Sask. went up in flames as a wildfire bore down on the northern community. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Owner Scott Robertson is still coming to terms with the shocking loss, despite being able to save his own family cabin by staying behind and fighting the flames himself. He showed Global News the damage the PISEW fire wrought firsthand.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Sellers ‘aren't budging' as inventory builds up in tariff-saddled B.C. real estate market
Ongoing uncertainty in global markets is having a homegrown effect on British Columbia's real estate market. Both sales and prices slumped last month, according to data B.C. Real Estate Association — part of a provincewide trend of sluggish sales activity over the last five months, with the priciest markets being hit the hardest. 'We have the highest level of inventory of both newly completed homes and existing homes in about 10 years,' B.C. Real Estate Association Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. 4:14 BCREA wants to make short-term rental restrictions less restrictive 'Sellers just aren't really budging. If you look at condo prices in Vancouver versus Toronto, they're down 20 per cent from peak in Toronto, they are down like 5 per cent from peak in Vancouver.' Story continues below advertisement Data supplied by the group showed sales were down 13.5 per cent over May 2024, while the average price of a home slid by 4.2 per cent to $959,058 from just over $1,001,341. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Vancouver Realtor Steve Saretsky said the market has become caught in a 'sort of feedback loop' because people are holding off on big purchases. 'Everyone is marked with uncertainty, worried with the tariff stuff, worried about the prospects of the labour market, are they going to be able to hold down a job,' he said. 'So what we are seeing is a lot of buyer hesitation, and that is allowing inventory to stack up and as the inventory stacks up, that just puts pressure on prices.' At the same time, he said some sellers are still holding out for unrealistic prices. 2:50 Why buying a condo could be cheaper than renting 'Everybody always feels like their house is worth more than it is, and people are always mentally anchored to the last price that sold in the building or the neighbourhood,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Both Saretsky and Ongmundson said they've seen numbers pick up slightly in recent weeks. Ongmundson said that could be linked to the relative lack of noise on the U.S.-Canada trade front. 'There are some signs that perhaps the worst is behind us,' he suggested. 'The quieter it is on the tariff front, the more confidence buyers are going to have.' Ongmundson added that before U.S. President Donald Trump launched his trade war, the province had been expecting a busy year on the real estate market. He said if economic fears calm down, some of that pent-up demand could start to make itself felt in the back half of 2025.
