Family might get Christmas surprises after woman from Mississauga wins lottery

Diane Crook’s family might be in for a few Christmas surprises in the next week or so.

That’s because the Mississauga woman just won a top prize of $250,000 playing the OLG’s Instant Crossword Deluxe scratch ticket game — and she’s planning something good for family members.

“It’s spectacular,” Crook, 70, said while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her windfall. “My dad enjoyed playing instant (win) tickets, and he would’ve loved this. I’m considering how to treat my family this Christmas season.”

The lucky winner, who’s been playing instant win tickets with OLG “on and off for about 30 years,” told lottery officials she recently played her Instant Crossword Deluxe ticket one night before bed.

Crook said she was so excited by her win that she couldn’t fall asleep that night.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) officials said in a news release on Friday that Crook told them she plans to set her winnings aside for the time being, but “I’m thinking of going to Italy next year,” she added.

The winning ticket was purchased at Petro-Canada, on Dixie Road in Mississauga.

(Cover photo: OLG)