Lottery ticket found in bag was life-changing winner for Ontario couple

A lottery ticket that was found in a bag turned out to be a life-changing winner for a couple in Ontario.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said that Barrie residents Filippos and Evangelia T. matched all five main numbers plus the grand number in the April 27 Daily Grand draw to win $1,000 a day for life.

The restaurant owners, who have been married for nearly 50 years, frequently play the lottery and this marked their first big win.

They opted for the lump sum of $7 million.

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“I almost forgot about this ticket,” Evangelia said.

“It was a normal day, and I was getting ready for a shift at the restaurant when I noticed it sitting in my bag….

“When I checked the winning numbers and saw they matched our ticket, my heart started racing. I kept looking back and forth between the ticket and the screen because I thought I had to be reading the numbers wrong. I remember thinking, ‘This can’t actually be happening — I think we just won big.'”

She immediately asked her husband to check the ticket.

“I was very emotional, excited, and shocked,” Filippos said.

“We both stood there feeling completely stunned and grateful.”

Handout / OLG

Evangelia shared the news with her friend, who initially thought she had won $1,000.

“I told her to take a closer look, and that’s when she noticed it was $1,000 a day for life. Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor,” Evangelia said.

Filippos and Evangelia told their children about the win by calling them one-by-one.

“Every single one of their reactions was priceless,” Filippos said.

“Hearing the excitement in their voices is something we’ll never forget.”

The couple said they plan to share the winnings with their children, invest for the future, and are considering some kitchen renovations.

“It honestly feels like we’re living in a dream,” Evangelia said.

“It’s surreal to think this one small ticket could completely change our lives,” Filippos added.

The winning ticket was purchased in Barrie at Jay’s Variety on Duckworth Street.