‘This can’t be real!’ Blind River man wins $2M lottery prize

Glen Morningstar of Blind River is celebrating and breathing easier about retirement after winning an Ontario 49 top prize worth $2 million in the Sept. 7, 2024, draw.

The father and grandfather has been playing the lottery with OLG for 40 years, the lottery corporation said in a release.

Morningstar carefully selects his numbers, which are based on family birthdays. He said he is ecstatic to be celebrating his first big win and the thrill of becoming a multi-millionaire.

“I was at home when I scanned my ticket on the OLG app. When I saw the ‘Big Winner’ message and the prize amount on the screen, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t sleep at all that night,” Morningstar said while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his windfall.

“I stared at the ticket, telling myself, ‘This can’t be real!’ It was an incredible feeling.”

“I first shared the news with my family. They were shocked and very happy for me,” Morningstar said. “I tell everyone, ‘This is one heck of a retirement package!’ I feel beyond lucky to have won this jackpot.”

Morningstar plans to save his winnings for his retirement.

Ontario 49 is $1 per play.

The winning ticket was purchased at Kwik-Way on Causley Street in Blind River.