Canadian couple choose lump sum after $1,000-a-week lottery win
A Canadian couple on a road trip were left in disbelief when a lottery ticket that they’d purchased during a pit stop turned out to be a huge winner.
It was an adventure of a lifetime for Annie Ouellet and her husband: the couple from Matane, Que., were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary by travelling through the east coast of Canada. Part of their itinerary included two days of glamping in Shippagan, N.B., followed by a tour through Wolfville and Lunenburg, N.S. While in Nova Scotia, Ouellet purchased a $4 Set for Life Scratch’N Win ticket. However, she thought she had only won a free ticket and decided to hold onto it for four days until finally deciding to validate her ticket on their way home.
“When my husband was gassing up, I went inside to validate the ticket, and that’s when
the worker said, ‘You’ve won the grand prize,'” recalled Ouellet. “I thought I just won a free
ticket, so I thought I wasn’t understanding the worker properly, but when my husband
came in, we realized we did win the grand prize!”
The couple had won Atlantic Lottery’s Set for Life top prize worth $1,000 a week for 25 years. They opted for the lump sum payment, which meant that they’re now $675,000 richer. Now, the couple said they can’t wait to return home.
Atlantic Lottery
“It’s like a dream — a beautiful dream,” Ouellet said. “We are in a rush to get home now, so we can announce it to our friends and family.”
Now with $675,000 to put towards their dreams, they said they’ll use the money to pay off their mortgage, buy a new truck, and spoil their two children.
“My daughter just bought a home, and my son is in school,” shared Ouellet. “Now, we will
be able to help them more.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Cochrane’s Pharmasave in Wolfville, N.S. The seller will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.