Canadian’s forgotten lottery ticket turned out to be key to early retirement

A forgotten lottery ticket turned out to be life-changing for one lucky Canadian, who is now heading into early retirement after a big win.

Laurie M. lives in Scarborough, Ont., and is no stranger to playing the lottery. In fact, she’s been trying her luck by playing the lottery twice a week for about 25 years, with no major wins. But her persistence eventually paid off.

While at a Shoppers Drug Mart, Laurie purchased a Lotto 6/49 ticket, then tucked it away in her purse, where it remained forgotten for several days.

“I was walking by a store when I saw a Lotto 6/49 ad and suddenly remembered I had a ticket to check,” she recalled.

As the store clerk was scanning her ticket, she told them that she thought she won three Free Plays, but the clerk corrected her.

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“The clerk looked at me and said, ‘Ma’am, you won more than just three Free Plays!'” she recalled. “That’s when she told me I had won $1 million. I immediately started shaking, and I think my heart nearly stopped!”

Laurie had won a $1-million Gold Ball prize in the Lotto 6/49 draw on May 6.

“I began crying tears of pure happiness,” she said. “Even during the ride home, I couldn’t process that I had just become a lottery winner.”

She said she still gets goosebumps thinking about the moment she found out about her win.

“This win means I can retire and finally enjoy the little things in life,” she shared, while at the OLG Prize Centre to claim her windfall.

With more time on her hands, Laurie said that she plans to travel to her bucket-list destinations.

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“I’m already planning a trip to London. After that, I’d love to visit Scotland — it’s been a dream destination of mine for years,” she shared. “I hope to explore more of Europe as well and take my time experiencing different cultures.”

She also plans to take up painting classes, something that she’s never been able to do as they take place during work hours.

“I feel incredibly fortunate, grateful, and excited for what the future holds,” Laurie stated.

The winning ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Eglinton Avenue East in Scarborough.

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.