No retirement for $5 million lottery winner in Canada

A man who won a big lottery prize in Canada and initially kept it a secret says he won’t be retiring.

Pierre Fortier won the $5 million classic jackpot in the April 1 Lotto 6/49 draw, Loto-Québec has announced.

The Montreal resident, who said he has carried on his father’s tradition of playing Lotto 6/49, always goes to the same convenience store to have his lottery tickets validated.

A visit during the week of April 13 was an especially memorable one.

“Every week when I go in, before the store owner validates my tickets, he asks me whether I’ve won. I never check my tickets before I go, so I found out I won right then and there,” Fortier said.

“The owner was so happy for me.”

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When Fortier went to go claim his prize, he said he hadn’t told anyone about the win.

“I still haven’t told anyone I’ve won,” he said.

Fortier didn’t plan on keeping the news a secret much longer, however.

He said he first planned on telling his brother.

Fortier recently came out of retirement to help his former employer and, despite the big win, said he has no intention of quitting his job.

Instead, Fortier said he plans on renovating his home “which is in dire need.”

“My win couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.

The winning ticket was bought at Dépanneur Grignoterie in Montreal’s La Petite-Patrie neighbourhood.

Loto-Québec said the retailer will also get a one per cent commission of $50,000.