Mississauga man plans to pay for his children’s education with lottery win

A Mississauga man celebrated his big lottery win with champagne.

John McRae of Mississauga won a Maxmillons prize worth$500,000 in the Jan. 10 Lotto Max draw.

The retired accountant said this is his first big win.

“I’ve been playing the lottery consistently for the last three or four years,” he said while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his winnings.

The 58-year-old was ready for the ‘Not a winner’ message to appear when he checked his ticket at the store.

“Instead, the machine said I was a big winner, and I was speechless,” he said. “I called my wife and told her to put the champagne in the fridge – I didn’t tell her why until I got home. She was so shocked. What an amazing start to the new year!”

McRae plans to use the money toward his children’s three university educations and may purchase a new car.

“And we’ll all celebrate this win together as a family. It feels amazing –there are endless possibilities,” he said.

The winning ticket was purchased at Longo’s on North Service Road in Mississauga.