TORONTO, ON – Life is a little more “grand” for Filippos and Evangelia T. of Barrie. They matched all five main numbers, plus the Grand Number, to win a top prize of $1,000 a day for life with DAILY GRAND in the April 27, 2026 draw. Filippos and Evangelia opted for the lump sum prize of $7 million.

Filippos and Evangelia, restaurant owners who have been married for nearly 50 years, said they frequently play the lottery with OLG and enjoy a variety of games. Now, they’re thrilled to share the story of their first big win.

“I almost forgot about this ticket! It was a normal day, and I was getting ready for a shift at the restaurant when I noticed it sitting in my bag,” Evangelia shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect their windfall. “When I checked the winning numbers and saw they matched our ticket, my heart started racing. I kept looking back and forth between the ticket and the screen because I thought I had to be reading the numbers wrong. I remember thinking, ‘This can’t actually be happening — I think we just won big!’”

Evangelia immediately called her husband over to check the ticket. Upon seeing that the numbers matched, his eyes grew wide. “I was very emotional, excited, and shocked,” he recalled. “We both stood there feeling completely stunned and grateful.”

When Evangelia shared the incredible news with a friend, the friend initially thought she had won $1,000. “I told her to take a closer look, and that’s when she noticed it was $1,000 a day for life! Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor,” she said with a laugh.

The couple surprised their children by calling them one by one. “Every single one of their reactions was priceless,” said Filippos. “Hearing the excitement in their voices is something we’ll never forget.”

Filippos and Evangelia plan to share their winnings with their children and invest for the future. They are also considering some kitchen renovations.

“Winning big is such an incredible feeling,” said Evangelia. “It honestly feels like we’re living in a dream.”

“It’s surreal to think this one small ticket could completely change our lives,” Filippos concluded.

DAILY GRAND is a national lottery game with a top prize of $1,000 a day for life for matching the five main numbers plus the Grand Number. The second prize is $25,000 a year for life for matching the five main numbers. DAILY GRAND is $3 per play and draws take place on Mondays and Thursdays.

The winning ticket was purchased at Jay’s Variety on Duckworth Street in Barrie.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

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