Mississauga lotto winner was surprisingly calm when he saw ‘Big Winner’
Published September 9, 2021 at 9:08 am
It’s fair to say Mississauga’s Joseph Mielcarek recently enjoyed the most rewarding grocery trip of his life.
The 62-year-old retired skilled trade worker was shopping with his wife when he decided to check his Aug. 3 Lotto Max ticket. He quickly learned his ticket had won a $100,000 Encore prize.
“I was surprisingly calm when I saw the ‘Big Winner’ on the screen,” said Mielcarek, who plays the lottery regularly, as he collected his winnings at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. “I looked over at my wife and told her I won $100,000, then I scanned the ticket a few more times just for fun.”
Mielcarek, whose ticket matched the last seven Encore numbers in exact order, said the win seems like a dream.
“I have so many mixed feelings about this win. It doesn’t feel real,” said Mielcarek, who likes to buy the Classic QuickPick pack of tickets. “I wasted no time telling my family. They are so happy for me.”
Mielcarek, who bought the ticket at the CNIB kiosk at Wal-Mart on Dundas Street in Mississauga, plans to take a vacation and then save the rest of his winnings.