Two eastern Ontario residents become millionaires from $100 scratchers
A pair of eastern Ontario residents are riding the New Year on a high note after becoming $1 million richer.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Ian Dupre of Embrun, Ont. and Stephanie Kell of Tweed, Ont. were two of the top prize winners from the Instant Ultimate scratch-off draw held on Jan. 4.
Dupre, a 37-year-old data analyst and father of two, said he isn't a regular lottery player.
"I drove my wife to the next town over to have our baby. After the baby was born, I decided to pick up some tickets while we were waiting to leave the hospital. I saw the Ultimate ticket and figured I would try my luck," Dupre told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) when he picked up his winnings.
"Sure enough, I checked my ticket after the draw and see I won $1 million – I was in complete disbelief. The first person I told was my wife and she couldn't believe it."
Dupre says he plans to pay some bills and make investments with his windfall. The winning ticket was purchased at Quickie Pearl on William Street in Brockville.
"It's surreal," he said.
Kell, 32, said she's also not a regular lottery player but will normally reach for an Ultimate ticket during the holiday season. She was cleaning her kitchen when she remembered to check her ticket on the OLG app.
"I completely froze when I saw the amount," she told the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.
"I ran out to the garage to tell my husband. He couldn't believe it. We were both so shocked and in disbelief."
She plans to pay off some bills and invest her winnings. She purchased her ticket at Petro Canada on Highway 62 in Belleville.
Instant Ultimate is a unique scratch-off ticket which could be purchased for $100 between Oct. 2, 2023 to Jan. 4, 2024. Players could scratch and win for an instant prize of up to $100,000 and each ticket was eligible for a chance to win one of 40 $1 million dollar prizes drawn on Jan. 4.
The odds of winning any prize were 1 in 3.55.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Scottie Scheffler arrested at PGA Championship for traffic violation, returns to course hours later
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for not following police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Ontario sees first measles death in more than a decade after young child dies
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Jessica Biel hopes to normalize the conversation around menstruation with a new children's book
Jessica Biel is the author of a new children’s book focused on destigmatizing and normalizing the conversation around menstruation.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from 'moving wrong' during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.