Laid-off, single Hamilton dad takes home big lotto prize

A lotto win capped a hard year for a single Hamilton father.

Douglas Pollard said he could barely move" when he checked his ticket and realized he'd won big.

The 40-year-old has been laid off as a result of the pandemic, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) wrote in a release.

OLG said Pollard was carrying groceries when he realized he'd won a $100,000 Encore prize.

Pollard matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in order in the Jan. 22 Lotto Max draw.

Pollard told the OLG the win is a breath of fresh air given the last year we've all had."

He plans to use the money for his daughter's schooling and starting a new career.

OLG says the winning ticket was purchased at Big Bee on Mall Road.

Other Hamilton residents have taken home big prizes recently.

Ammar Hussein of Stoney Creek took home $2.5 million in a Feb. 13 Lotto 6/49 win.

Adam Greenly of Hamilton took home $793,662.10 from a March 1 Lightning Lotto.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com