$5.6 million doesn’t interupt groceries
Just Imagine: Gravenhurst Resident Wins $5.6 Million With LOTTO 6/49
Mara Smelter-Weir smiles while receiving her cheque for $5.6 million at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Prize Centre in Toronto. (CNW Group/OLG Winners). Photo CNW
TORONTO, May 31 /CNW/ – Mara Smelter-Weir of Gravenhurst was heading out to do some grocery shopping when she discovered that she had the winning numbers for the $5.6 million LOTTO 6/49 jackpot from the May 26, 2010 draw.
“I went into my usual grocery store to do some shopping, and decided to check my ticket on one of the self-scanners. When it came up big winner, I was sure that I had won $5,000 but when the clerk printed out my ticket, I said ‘wait, a minute, that number has too many commas!’ That’s when I realized how much I had really won,” laughed the good-natured Smelter-Weir.
Her first post-win decision was a sensible one.
“The funny part is that I continued to do my grocery shopping, but with tears of joy pouring down my face,” the winner said.
The long-time Gravenhurst resident and former executive director of various charitable organizations said that she has already made an appointment to pay off her mortgage. Home renovations are next on her list, but she says that she won’t be splurging on anything in the near future.
“Everything else is just gravy! It’s all wonderful, but we are not material people and are just going to enjoy having some financial freedom now,” said Smelter-Weir.
She and her husband are avid travelers and said that they will be treating themselves to a lot more world travel in the future.
The winning ticket was bought at Mighty Mart on Muskoka Road South in Gravenhurst.
Since LOTTO 6/49 was launched in June 1982, Ontario players have won more than $9.2 billion in prizes, including 1,183 jackpot wins. As of April 30, 2010, there have been 2,741 LOTTO 6/49 draws.
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, casinos, slots, and resort casinos have generated more than $32 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
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