It took awhile for a "surreal" $175,543.60 lottery win to sink in for retiree Josephine Hayes of Aurora.
Hayes, who is retired from work in public service, is a weekly lottery player who is celebrating her first big win with the Lotto Max second prize in the April 26, 2024 draw.
“I checked my ticket on the OLG app and saw $175 and I was so excited. I scanned it again and realized I missed the zeros,” she shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings. “I was stunned and could not find my words for a few moments.”
“It felt surreal. I kept thinking this can’t be true. It’s special and the excitement of this win has been unlike anything I dreamed of when I would buy my tickets.”
Once reality sunk in, Hayes was excited to share the news with her family.
“They were over the moon for me. We joked, laughed, and celebrated together. It was a special moment to share with them.”
“I will share this win with my family and save the rest for some incredible bucket list experiences,” Hayes concluded.
The winning ticket was purchased at Hasty Market on Earl Stewart Drive in Aurora.
