Family Feast Unveils a Fortune: A Mother’s Million-Dollar Surprise

In lottery wins, discretion is often chosen over immediate disclosure. A recent victor chose this approach, finding a unique occasion to unveil her windfall.

Theressa Stade, a manager based in Chesley, Ontario, is no stranger to lottery excitement. She often participates for the thrill of the draw, particularly when the stakes are high or a new game catches her eye. The allure of the Merry Millions, a novel, $20-a-ticket game promising three $1 million top prizes, three $50,000 Early Bird prizes, and over 400 additional prizes ranging from $1,000 to $250,000, caught her fancy.

“On a whim, I bought five Merry Millions tickets, enticed by the game’s newness and array of draws,” Stade recounts.

Preoccupied with vacation plans, she quickly used the OLG app to scan her tickets before departure. Initially mistaking her win for $2,500, Stade shelved the ticket for a later review.

Upon a second glance, she was astounded to find one ticket worth $250,000. Doubting her eyes, she enlisted her husband’s help to confirm the staggering prize. His disbelief mirrored her own.

Opting for a dramatic reveal, Stade decided to wait until a family dinner to break the news. Wrapping the ticket as a gift, she presented it to her children, announcing, “It’s your lucky day — I won big, and I’m going to share it with you!” Their astonishment mirrored the magnitude of the surprise.

Beyond the joy of sharing, Stade intends to use her windfall to reduce her mortgage, a testament to the transformative power of luck.

This extraordinary ticket was purchased at an Esso on 10th Street in Owen Sound, marking a place of fortune in an ordinary world.