05-02-2025
Ontario woman wins $100K Encore lotto prize, calls her boss to let him know she won't be quitting
Tammy Larson had a life-changing moment when she checked her Daily Grand ticket and discovered she'd won $100,000 through Encore in the Nov. 28, 2024, draw. For many, a lottery win sparks dreams of retirement — but not Larson. Before celebrating, the Thunder Bay, Ont., resident called her boss to let him know she wasn't going anywhere.
'I shared the good news with my dad and then with my boss, reassuring him that I wasn't going to be quitting my job,' said Larson, who works in administration.
Instead of an early retirement, Larson is setting her sights on new experiences — including a potential trip abroad to catch a Tottenham Hotspur soccer match.
'I've always tried to live life to the fullest. I've swum with dolphins in Jamaica, skydived in Manitoba, and ridden down the longest zipline in Canada,' said Larson.
'With my winnings, I plan to pay down my mortgage, share with my family, and perhaps take a trip abroad to catch a Tottenham Hotspur soccer match.'
Larson is a regular lottery player with OLG. Each week she picks up her Daily Grand, Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49 and Ontario 49 tickets from her preferred retail location, and makes sure to always add Encore to all her plays.
Encore is a bonus game that can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1, as players receive a random seven-digit number. There are two Encore draws every day. In this case, Larson matched the last six of seven Encore numbers — 3075588 — helping her secure the second biggest prize.
The Thunder Bay-resident has won many modest prizes over the years, but nothing could have prepared her for the thrill of seeing her $100,000 win appear at the ticket checker.
'I was at the store when I used the ticket checker to see how I did on my tickets. When I saw the prize amount, I couldn't believe it,' said Larson.
'I took my winning ticket to the clerk, and as they validated it, they said, 'Oh, you won big!' We were both thrilled!'
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.
