Down-to-earth Canadian plans to keep lottery win celebrations low-key

What would you do if you won the lottery? Most winners want to celebrate with a vacation or a big dinner with friends and family. However, one Canadian said he wants to keep things simple.

Lottery player Delroy Shand is a 60-year-old automotive worker who lives in Brampton, Ont. He’s no stranger to playing the lottery — he said he’s been buying tickets ever since he moved to Canada in 1990.

One day, he purchased a Lotto 6/49 ticket, and at the time, the jackpot was worth $24 million. While buying his ticket, Shand did what he usually does and added a $1 Encore to his purchase.

Irish Mae Silvestre/Daily Hive

When he checked his ticket, he was surprised to find out that he had matched all seven Encore numbers in the exact order in the Feb. 4, Lotto 6/49 draw — he had won $1 million.

“I always say yes to Encore, and this time it made me $1 million richer!” he said.

While at the OLG Prize Centre to claim his winnings, he said that he shared the news with his family. However, he stated, “We’ve kept it quiet.”

He does have big plans for his windfall: Shand said he wants to buy a new home. But apart from that, he doesn’t want anything to change and has no plans to retire just yet.

OLG

“I don’t want to quit work. I love my job,” he shared. “I don’t want to spend my win on anything lavish either. I just want to focus on my family and my retirement.”

According to Shand, he purchased his winning ticket at Petro-Canada on Eglington Avenue West in Etobicoke.

When asked how he plans to celebrate, the down-to-earth winner said, “I think I need a good steak.”

All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.