After a difficult day at work, Ontario resident Joe Chuckry decided to pick up a lottery ticket.
Little did he know it would lead to him winning a $1,000,000 prize.
“When I bought my ticket, I thought a small win would be a nice way to end a challenging day. I figure if I don’t play, I don’t have a chance to win,” said Chuckry in a news release.
When he played the ticket, he wasn’t sure he had won. He then scanned it on the store’s ticket checker and was in shock.
“When I returned home, I told my wife we needed to talk, and she thought something was wrong,” said Chuckry.
He showed her the ticket and was shaking, telling her he had won $1,000.
“I scanned my ticket on the OLG app, and she said, ‘No — that’s a million!’ We immediately started celebrating together,” he explained.
The couple then played “If I Had $1,000,000” by the Barenaked Ladies and sang and danced together to celebrate.
“In fact, I made a whole playlist of songs about winning!” said Chuckry.
He added that his win comes with “a sense of spontaneity, freedom, gratitude, and wonder.”
Chuckry said he plans to use his prize to pay off his mortgage and invest in retirement. He also wants to treat his wife and take her on a tropical vacation to Hawaii.
His winning ticket was purchased at Kay’s Korner Variety on Thorold Road in Welland.
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, you can find resources here.