A family trip and a new home are planned for B.C.’s latest lottery winner, who says her family has suffered through a “tough time” financially.
Gladys Ortiz matched five out of five numbers on the Daily Grand Draw held February 11, 2019 to win $25,000 a year for life.
Ortiz had the option to choose the annual payment, or a lump-sum cheque worth $500,000. She chose the latter to start turning dreams into reality right away.
“This means a lot,” Ortiz said. “We’ve had a tough time over the past couple of years, and this is an answer to my prayers. I cannot describe what this means to me.”
Ortiz has continued to play the Daily Grand – her favourite lottery – because she loves the idea of winning $1,000 a day for life – however, she’s also more than happy to accept its secondary prize of $25,000 a year for life.
“I was at Lougheed Mall and the clerk scanned my ticket and he said ‘You’re a big winner! You’re a big winner!’ I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It’s such a fantastic feeling. My first thought was that I need to talk to my family immediately.”
Now that the dust has settled and the excitement has abated somewhat, Ortiz has a few plans for her new-found wealth.
“I would love to take my son to Israel,” she said. “After that we will start looking for a new house. But for now, a celebration dinner with my family.”
