Murray and his wife, Jennifer Stuart-Flynn, live in Iroquois Falls and had just returned from a Toronto hospital where their baby was born after a high-risk pregnancy.
“Kyle was waiting at the Timmins airport to pick up his mother, who was coming to help with the new baby,” OLG explained.
“That’s when Jennifer texted Kyle asking him to buy a Lotto Max ticket after seeing on social media that the jackpot was $70 million.”
The next morning after the draw, Stuart-Flynn, 33, checked the ticket using the lottery app on her phone after learning a winning ticket had been sold in her area.
“I heard the 'Winner/Winner' tone,” she said.
“I was in shock and didn’t understand what was going on, so I closed the OLG app and opened it again. I checked the ticket again and I heard the same thing. That’s when I called Kyle.”
Stuart-Flynn, who is not a regular lottery player, said she had perhaps bought five or six tickets in her life.
Kyle Murray, 39, said when he saw “$70 million winner,” he felt dizzy.
“Everything seems to come in threes for us, the good and the bad, and this was the most positive three, from the start when we got our newborn, to my husband’s promotion, and now winning the lottery, I am so grateful,” his wife said in an interview with OLG.
To celebrate, the couple took their children and Murray’s mother out to eat at a local restaurant.
“We wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but we knew in our small town, that kind of news travels fast. We had to be careful not to spill the beans throughout dinner,” Stuart-Flynn said.
When the couple claimed their winnings at the Prize Centre in Toronto, Murray told officials that the last few years had been difficult for his family.
“Everything we did was to make our children’s lives better,” he said.
Stuart-Flynn said it was emotional realizing her children “will have a much better life than I had.”
“They will no longer have to question anything or worry about anything,” she explained.
One of the things they will do with the money is buy a house for her sister.
“I love her, she is the best person in the world and she deserves it,” Stuart-Flynn said.
Murray added that he wanted to buy some land and build a “small farm.”
He purchased the winning ticket at the Esso gas station on Algonquin Boulevard in Timmins.
The Winning Ticket Was Sold In Timmins
The winning ticket was purchased at the Esso gas station on Algonquin Boulevard in Timmins, Ontario. This small town is known for its strong community spirit and is located in the heart of Northern Ontario. The couple has expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from their community since winning the lottery.
The Family Plans to Use the Winnings to Secure Their Future
The couple has stated that they plan to use the winnings to secure their future and provide a better life for their children. They intend to buy a home for Stuart-Flynn's sister and Murray wants to build a small farm. This news serves as a reminder that even in the most difficult of times, hope can prevail.
A Lottery Win For the Ages
This incredible story has captivated people across the country. The couple's journey from facing challenges to winning the lottery has inspired many. Their story is a testament to the power of hope and perseverance.
The couple's win is a reminder that dreams can come true and that life can take unexpected turns. It's a story that will be told for years to come in the small town of Iroquois Falls, where a family's life has been forever changed by a $70 million lottery win.
