Canadian to fulfill late wife's dream after $5-million lottery win
For one Canadian man, a multimillion-dollar lottery win means he can finally fulfill his late wife’s dream.
Paul Cousineau is a father and grandfather who lives in Orillia, Ont. Cousineau works as an administrative professional in the hospitality industry and has been playing the lottery for decades, using the Quick Pick feature to make his selections for Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max.
“It was a regular day when I decided to pick up a ticket at my usual store. I’ve been buying my tickets there for years,” he recalled.
It would take weeks until he would discover the life-changing news.
“I waited about four weeks. By then, I had over 20 tickets to check,” he recalled.
Cousineau headed to the store to validate, and while scanning one of his tickets, the lottery terminal froze: he had won the Lotto 6/49 Classic Jackpot in the March 19 draw. He was now $5 million richer.
“I remained calm and carried on with my day, only telling my cousin about my win. I even made them take an oath of silence!” he recalled with a laugh.
He explained why he deliberately kept the news a secret from his family.
Irish Mae Silvestre/Daily Hive
“Unexpectedly, my grandson checked my ticket and asked, ‘Did you win the jackpot?’ I told him, ‘No, but I won $5,000!'” he said. “I wanted to keep my win a secret until I had the cheque in hand. Now, I have a big reveal planned for our family barbecue tomorrow.”
Cousineau admitted that it’s been a difficult time.
“I lost my wife last year,” he shared. “Her dream was to take an Alaskan cruise, and I want to honour that by going on one for my 52nd birthday this fall. I’ll have her urn with me, so in a way, she’ll be with me on this trip.”
He described the feeling of winning as “absolutely surreal.”
“I’m overjoyed and shaking. All the anticipation I’ve felt has led to this moment, and it’s a dream come true,” he said.
Cousineau bought his winning ticket at Circle K on Atherley Road in Orillia.
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.