An Owen Sound couple are celebrating after a life-changing $40-million lottery win.
Bryan and Stephanie Cantwell are the lucky couple who held the ticket sold in Grey County which won half of the record-setting $80-million jackpot in the Sept. 17 Lotto Max draw. Another winning ticket sold in Quebec took the other $40-million.
Bryan, 46, was in disbelief when he scanned the winning ticket on his phone, and took to checking some other tickets to ensure the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation app was working properly.
“I went back to the winning ticket and scanned it again and again. I think I checked it seven or eight times. The message remained the same: ‘Big Winner’ and ‘$40-million,” Bryan recalls.
His partner Stephanie, 47, was getting ready for work when Bryan brought his phone to share the news.
“I wasn’t sure what was happening as he asked me to check the ticket. I thought I saw $40,000,” she told the OLG. “That’s when he told me to take a second look and I screamed!”
Still in shock, the couple carried on and kept getting ready and then went to work. Stephanie had a job in the packaging industry, and Bryan in the skilled trades.
“We both tried to carry on with the day like nothing had happened but that lasted about five minutes,” Stephanie laughs.
According to the OLG, the couple left their workplaces and decided to surprise their family friend who sold them the ticket at the store. The lucky location where the big $40-million winner was purchased was the Petro-Canada on Highway 6 & 10 at Rockford.
Bryan and Stephanie went into the store and had their friend check one ticket, and the familiar “Winner/Gagnant” sound rang out. But that one was just a $20 win. Then he handed her another Lotto Max ticket, and their friend at the store was left in shock after realizing she had validated the $40-million win.
The Owen Sound couple told the OLG they have had moments of extreme excitement balanced with reality checks since learning of their big windfall.
“We have always been generous people and we dream of helping all the people we love,” says Stephanie. “But I am the budget queen, and we need to be careful to ensure we can make the most impact with this money for family, friends, and the community.”
Bryan adds: “This is generational wealth, and we want to make this last.”
They plan to help Stephanie’s sister buy a new home. And the couple also want to help their parents and their children, they told the OLG.
“One request from our daughter is to refurbish an old Ford Bronco and as a car guy, I will be happy to help make that dream come true,” Bryan says.
As for themselves, a new dream home and travel are on the list. And Bryan also got himself a new motorcycle after his old bike was damaged a few weeks ago.
“I have never gone into a motorcycle shop and pointed to a new bike,” says Bryan. “I was hoping to get a decent used one.”
(image supplied by OLG)
