Two northerners take home big lottery prizes

Ontario hospitals fundraise for medical equipment Megan Wigmore explains that all Ontario hospitals have to fundraise for medical equipment and how Split the Pot Lottery is helping.

Two northern Ontario residents are taking home big prizes playing the lottery.

Colette Savage of Sudbury won the $250,000 top prize playing an Instant Super Money Multiplier scratch ticket, Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) said in a news release Monday.

The retiree said she has been playing various lottery games for the past three decades and "always likes to purchase her tickets from the same retail store."

She bought her winning ticket at the Kwikway on Lasalle Boulevard, OLG said.

Savage said the people who own the family-run store are the sweetest.

"When I went in, I asked the store clerk what the newest $10 game was. One drew my eye, and I picked this specific ticket," she is quoted as saying in the news release.

She discovered her win while having a bite to eat.

"I was eating my sandwich and started to play when I saw all the zeros," Savage said.

"I dropped my sandwich, scanned my ticket and immediately called my brother. He asked, 'Is this real?' I was pacing, crying, and screaming. I couldn’t believe it."

She plans to buy some new home furnishings and spoil herself a little with her windfall.

"It’s surreal! You have to win to experience this feeling. You really can’t describe it," Savage said.

Meanwhile, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michele Stefanizzi took home $100,000 playing Encore in the May 1 Ontario 49 draw.

He matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order to win his prize.

Stefanizzi's winning ticket was purchased at Paquette's Confectionary on Korah Road, OLG said.

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