An Owen Sound great-grandmother’s personal approach to picking her lottery numbers has paid off big time.
Susan Ward, who enjoys playing draw-based games, said she selects numbers that hold special significance for her family.
She’s now celebrating her first big win of $207,214.20 after scoring the second prize in the July 13 Lotto 6/49 draw.
“I checked my ticket on the self-checker at the store, and suddenly, I froze,” Ward told OLG officials.
“It’s safe to say I was shocked. I almost had to put my glasses on to double-check that it was real! I told my family, and they were so happy for me.”
Ward, who bought the winning ticket at Circle K on Sykes Street in Meaford, added, “It’s such a shock, but it’s a great feeling overall.”
For Maple resident Eduardo Cordero Hidalgo, it took about 30 years but he finally got his first big win.
The 59-year-old matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the July 2 Lotto Max draw to win $100,000.
“I always purchase my tickets on Tuesday and check the winning numbers on Friday,” he told OLG. “I like to check my tickets while I’m eating lunch.”
During that meal, Hidalgo scanned his tickets on the OLG app and discovered his big win.
“I checked the first ticket and won $2 plus a Free Play,” he told OLG. “It was exciting just to win that! Then, I scanned the second ticket and thought I had won $100.”
Hidalgo needed independent confirmation before celebrating.
“Some men walked past me, so I asked them, ‘How many zeroes are in $100?’ They replied, ‘Two,’ and I asked how many zeroes were in $100,000. When they said ‘five,’ I nearly lost my mind. I remember screaming, ‘Holy smokes! I just won the lottery!’
“I was experiencing some muscle pain that day, but with the joy of winning overwhelming me, the tension went away. The feeling was sensational.”
Hidalgo immediately called his wife to share the exhilarating news.
“It’s a crazy, fantastic, and incredible feeling,” he told OLG.
The winning ticket was bought at Variety Plus on Major Mackenzie Drive in Maple.