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$1 lottery turns into $1M win for Ontario man who forgot ticket ‘for almost a year’

Click to play video: 'What Canadians should know if they win the lottery'
What Canadians should know if they win the lottery
Canada could see Lotto 6/49 award its largest-ever jackpot on Wednesday night as its Gold Ball draw is guaranteed to be awarded after weeks since it was first put in place, with $68 million up for grabs. Sean Previl reports on what steps Canadians should take and what you should know if you're lucky enough to see that big cash windfall. – Sep 27, 2023

A Barrie, Ont., man who thought he won $1,000 was happily surprised to find a few extra zeros at the end of his winning ticket.

Ontario Lottery Gaming Corp. says Kanthasamy Thirumaran matched all seven Encore numbers in exact order in the March 15, 2023, Lotto 6/49 draw to win $1 million.

Kanthasamy, a sales assistant, told the lottery organization he purchased his ticket and left it at home.

“I forgot about it for almost a year. I found it while cleaning the house and checked it on the OLG app. I thought I won $1,000 at first — then I realized it was $1 million,” he recalls.

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The 45-year-old says he has been in shock about the win.

“I told my wife, and she started to cry tears of happiness,” he said.

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Kanthasamy Thirumaran of Barrie wins $1 million on ENCORE. Supplied by OLG

The Barrie man has some practical plans for the big win, planning to pay off his mortgage and invest in his children’s education.

He said they may also go on vacation when that’s all handled.

“I’m still in disbelief. I can’t put this feeling into words,” Kanthasamy said.

The winning ticket was purchased at Esso on The Run on Eglinton Avenue in Scarborough.

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