Innisfil, Ont.’s Stanley J. did not realize how dramatically his life was going to change when he bought a lottery ticket at a grocery store in Woodstock. A plumber by trade with a 40-year career to his name, Stanley says when purchasing the winning ticket, he stuck with a set of numbers he has been using for years. “A few years ago, I purchased a Lotto Max ticket with Quick Pick numbers and I’ve stuck with those numbers ever since,” Stanley says. “I guess that was a good decision.” Stanley was visiting his girlfriend on July 24, when he purchased the ticket. Later that night, when he checked his winnings on the app, he thought he had won $25,000. “I soon realized I won much more, but I was in shock,” he says. “I asked my girlfriend to check my ticket for me and she thought I was joking until she saw the prize amount of $25 million,” he says. “We were both shocked.” Stanley says the feeling of shock remained until he saw the money in his bank account. That was when he shouted, “Wow! I am a friggin’ millionaire!” When he won, Stanley says he planned on quietly telling a few family members and friends, but he was surprised to learn word of his winnings had spread fast among his social circle, who were happy for him. A house on the lake and a classic hot-rod are on his list of things to buy, he says, but Stanley also plans to spend his money on some important people. “I’d like to show my girlfriend some of my favourite places, I love the sun, sand, and beaches,” he says. “I want to spoil my granddaughter and daughter,” he adds. “This win brings me a sense of comfort.”
