SUDBURY -- A northern Ontario woman from North Cobalt won the top prize in an instant scratch ticket after cashing in some smaller birthday winnings.
Denise Martel, a 57-year-old caterer, purchased an Instant Sonic Multiplier at BNS Corner Gas on King Street in her hometown five days after her birthday.
She had been given some lottery tickets as gifts and used the winnings to buy the new ticket after the cashier recommended the game.
Martel brought the new ticket home to play it.
"I was sitting at the dining room table, and when I matched the number and uncovered the prize I kept revealing numbers until $250,000 appeared," said Martel when she picked up her cheque at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. "I screamed and jumped out of my chair. My husband thought I was full of it so I grabbed my phone and scanned it using the OLG Lottery App. When he saw, he said, 'come on, let’s go to the store.'"
When they scanned the ticket at the store, the terminal froze.
She turned to her husband and said, "Do you believe me now?"
Martel, a mother and grandmother, is planning to use the money to travel and pay off her husband's new truck. She also says she will share with her family and invest in her retirement.
"Whenever I can go to Vegas, I’m going. It might take a few years to get there, but I’m going," said Martel. "I still can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true – what a good time."
Prize winners of $10,000 or more can make an appointment to pick up their winnings at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto, but claims under $50,000 can be done through the mail. Prize winners must wear protective equipment when at the OLG centre.
