Northern Ont. men win $1M in Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw

After 25 years of playing Lotto 6/49 together, former coworkers Norman Gillespie of Elliot Lake and Robert Pelletier of Stoney Creek have won $1 million.

Norman Gillespie of Elliot Lake and Robert Pelletier of Stoney Creek won a Lotto 6/49 prize worth $1 million in the Gold Ball Draw on July 23.

Gillespie and Pelletier have been playing the lottery together for 25 years, starting the tradition when they were coworkers.

This is their first major win.

Gillespie went to the store to pick up their regular tickets when he decided to check the ones he already had.

“When the cashier scanned the ticket and the terminal froze, I was stunned,” he said in a news release Friday from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

“I called Robert right away to let him know we won big -- he was very happy and excited.”

Gillespie and Pelletier said they are both thinking of buying new cars with their windfall.

“I will speak with a financial adviser first,” Gillespie said.

“I will also put my portion ... toward bills,” Pelletier added.

The winning ticket was purchased at Petro Canada on Centre Street in Espanola.