TORONTO – Saying “yes” to Encore paid off for Janet Ritchie of Arthur.
Ritchie matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the July 15 LOTTO 6/49 draw to win $100,000.
A long-term care nurse, Ritchie discovered her win while on her way to work
“I stopped to buy tickets for that night’s draw,” she shared, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her cheque. “I used the ticket checker to scan my other tickets and I thought I was seeing things. I had to ask the clerk to double check. I was so stunned, I tried to leave to go to work but the clerk told me I had to stay and wait for a call from OLG.”
Because she had to go to work and she knew she was going to have difficultly focusing, she decided to call her family and tell them right away.
“I went out to the car to call my family and heard them all say, ‘Yeah right,’” she laughed.
Ritchie plans to put her winnings into savings for her retirement and treat herself to some cottage toys.
“I’m thinking kayaks or a paddle board – lots of fun decisions to make,” she said. “This is surreal. I can’t believe it – an unbelievable experience. I never expected to be a winner.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Ultramar Gas Station on Highway 26 in Stayner.
OLG is now accepting in-person prize claims by appointment only for customers with prizes of $1,000 or more who wish to claim at the OLG Prize Centre. Players should contact the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098 to discuss available prize claim options or to schedule an appointment.
