A Barrie couple can officially call themselves multi-millionaires after winning the top prize on the OLG game "Daily Grand,"
Filippos and Evangelia T. (full last name withheld in accordance with OLG policy) matched all five main numbers, plus the Grand Number, to win a top prize of $1,000 a day for life in the April 27, 2026 draw. However, they instead opted for the lump sum prize of $7 million.
“I almost forgot about this ticket! It was a normal day, and I was getting ready for a shift at the restaurant when I noticed it sitting in my bag,” Evangelia told OLG staff. “When I checked the winning numbers and saw they matched our ticket, my heart started racing. I kept looking back and forth between the ticket and the screen because I thought I had to be reading the numbers wrong. I remember thinking, ‘This can’t actually be happening — I think we just won big!’”
Evangelia says she immediately called her husband over to check the ticket.
“I was very emotional, excited, and shocked,” Filippos recalled to OLG. “We both stood there feeling completely stunned and grateful.”
The couple, who have been married for nearly 50 years, are restaurant owners that say they play the lottery frequently across a variety of games.
The winning ticket was purchased at Jay’s Variety on Duckworth Street in Barrie.
After winning, they say they surprised their children by calling them individully.
“Every single one of their reactions was priceless,” said Filippos. “Hearing the excitement in their voices is something we’ll never forget.”
With their winnings, they plan to share it with their children and invest for the future. They are also considering some kitchen renovations.
“It’s surreal to think this one small ticket could completely change our lives,” Filippos said.
