'I started crying like a baby' local million dollar lottery winner declares!

Dan Beaulne from North Bay is celebrating after winning $1 million with LOTTO MAX MAXMILLIONS in the January 27 draw. 

“I purchased my winning ticket on my way home from work,” shared Dan while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where he picked up his big cheque. “I checked my ticket a couple of days later.” 

First, Dan scanned his ticket in the ticket checker. “The words, ‘Big Winner’ appeared on the screen plus the number 1 and a row of zeros.

"For some reason I thought I won $10,000. I asked the retailer to check for me. That’s when the terminal shut down. OLG called the store to speak with me and I don’t remember much of the conversation. Then I received the validation slip and the amount I won was staring back at me. I shouted out loud with excitement and said to the retailer, ‘I’m a millionaire!’” 

The moments after Dan found out about his big win were emotional.

“I returned to my car and I started crying like a baby. I became even more emotional when I shared the big news with my wife and kids. When I told my wife she kept looking at the validation slip and she needed me to tell her out loud how much I won. We know what the number 1,000,000 looks like but not with a dollar sign in front of it.” 

Plans are underway for Dan’s windfall.

“I am a newlywed fortunate enough to have found love for a second time. We have an amazing blended family of children and grand-children. This win means that my bride and I can build our first house together. We also sponsor two young children – a little boy in Africa and a young girl in Dominican Republic. We are planning to visit both of them in the near future. My dream is to set up education funds for both children to help take care of their futures, just like this win has helped take care of mine,” Dan concluded. 

The winning ticket was purchased at R & R Petroleum on Hillside Drive in Elliot Lake.