Here’s who won the $70 million lottery in Ontario
Published April 25, 2024 at 10:02 am
An Ontario couple kept their massive, $70 million win a secret from their entire family for several months.
But now the secret is out — Doug and Enid Hannon of Lakefield, a small community near Peterborough, Ontario — are the winners of the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot from the Feb. 20, 2024 draw, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced today (April 25).
The couple, who has been married for 51 years, said they kept the “huge” secret from everyone until they could get some financial and legal advice.
They even kept it a secret from their grown children and grandchildren, according to the press release from OLG. Not telling anyone was very difficult for Enid as she is very open and expressive with all who know her.
“Keeping this secret was killing me,” she told OLG.
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Enid purchased the Quick Pick Lotto Max ticket at a grocery store but it was Doug who discovered the big win the day after the draw when he checked the ticket on the OLG App.
“I was completely unaware that a winning ticket had been sold in our area. So, when I saw ‘Big Winner’ on the phone screen, I was shaking! My heart was pounding. I had to stare at it for a while and process all those zeroes. Then I had to check it a few more times,” he said.
Doug, who has been retired for a few years, decided not to mention anything to his wife until she got home from work.
“I went to the garage and buried my head in some work while I struggled with disbelief and thought about our next steps,” Doug said.
He made sure dinner was ready when Enid got home and waited until after they ate to share the news. Enid has a vivid recollection of that life-changing moment.
“Doug told me to come into the computer room and the OLG website was on the computer screen, and he told me to check the numbers on ticket. When I realized we had won a prize, I first thought it was a $70,000 win. Doug told me to recount all the zeros and that’s when it hit me that we won $70 million!”
That’s when their emotions let loose — they hugged and cried and started talking about the opportunity they now have to help family and others.
About a week before collecting their prize, Doug and Enid finally told their children and grandchildren about their good fortune.
Although they now have enough money to buy a home nearly anywhere they choose, the couple plans to stay in Lakefield.
“I have been dreaming about a new kitchen for years and now I will get it, along with some other improvements to the house because we love where we live, and we don’t want to move,” said Enid.
Enid plans to retire and the couple is planning trips.
“I would like to travel across Canada to experience the beautiful nature of this country from coast to coast,” said Doug who loves the outdoors.
The number one priority for the money is their family and they plan to share the windfall with them.
“I want to ensure everyone is safe, secure and well taken care of,” said Enid.
They are also planning a big family trip to celebrate the win together.
They also want to share a portion of their winnings with some community causes close to their hearts.
Photos: OLG
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