UNITED COUNTIES OF SD&G, Ontario – Carole Poll of Dalkeith and Samantha Poll of Lancaster cashed in one winning ticket from a June 11 Encore draw, Michel and Susan Maheux of Winchester won as well from an Aug. 5 ticket and John Primeau of Cornwall cashed in his own winning ticket also from a Aug. 5 Encore game. Both tickets won $100, 000.
“We have been playing together for about nine years,” shared Carole Poll while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where the pair picked up their winnings. “Prior to this, we had only won a few small prizes, so when the terminal froze, I had no idea what was happening!”
“The retailer confirmed I was a Big Winner, and when OLG called and told me it was $100,000, I burst out crying!” recalled Carole. “I called my husband when I returned to work and he had to figure out what was happening through my tears. Luckily, he knew they were tears of joy and immediately asked what my plans were for the win.”
Samantha was out of town for a few days, so Carole left her a note on her truck, saying she needed to speak with her. “I was exhausted when I got home, but figured I should go and talk to my mom,” said Samantha. “The first thing she said to me was, ‘You owe me $40 for the lottery,’ I couldn’t believe she had made me come to see her for that!”
Then Carole broke the good news, “I couldn’t wait any longer and told her we had to go to Toronto to pick up our winnings! Samantha started jumping up and down and we hugged each other.”
Carole and Samantha both have big plans for their windfall. “My husband and I have been planning a trip to the territories and maybe even Alaska for when he retires next year. We can now buy a new camper for the trip!” shared Carole. “We will be doing some much needed home renovations,” concluded Samantha.
Michel and Susan Maheux matched six of seven winning numbers on their Encore selection to win.
“We checked our tickets online a few days after the draw,” the couple shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where they picked up their winnings. “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing, so decided to head to the store to validate the ticket.”
“Our son just happened to be in the area, and his friend was in the store and saw what was happening. He ran outside to tell our son we had won, but he didn’t believe him until he came inside and saw the look on our faces,” recalled Michel.
The parents of three already have big plans for their winnings. “I would like to do a few home renovations and Michel would like to add a shop onto the barn,” shared Susan. “We would love to take a trip somewhere South, and share some of the winnings with our children.”
“This win gives us freedom. We can pay some bills and do things so much sooner than we originally planned,” concluded the pair.
John Primeau’s ticket was just one of many he had stopped to check at his local gas station.
“I stopped at the gas station to fill up and check a couple of tickets,” shared John while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where he picked up his winnings. “When I saw $100,000 on the screen, I called the retailer over and asked if it was right. He was more excited than I was!”
When John won, John quickly ran out of the store, and drove home to tell his wife. “I ran in the door and said, ‘Come with me to the gas station, I have a problem.’ Once we scanned the ticket again, I made her read the numbers and she yelled out, ‘It’s $100,000!’”
“We don’t have any plans for the money yet,” said John. “I’m still going to work, but I’m going to have a bigger smile while I’m there!”, he concluded.
