OWEN SOUND, Ont. — He was checking his lottery ticket before a Sunday drive up the Bruce Peninsula to look at cottages he and his family dreamed of buying.
It was a good time to check the ticket.
Jason Goreski, a 48-year-old father of two from Owen Sound, Ontario, won just shy of $33.4 million (US$25.2 million) in the Feb 2 Lotto 6/49 draw, Ontario's gaming operator announced Monday.
"When I noticed I had matched four numbers in a row, I started to shake," he said in a news release from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG).
"Then I saw that the last two numbers matched and that's when things started to get a bit hectic."
Goreski checked his ticket while waiting for his girlfriend and kids to get ready for the Sunday trek to check out cottages.
"I asked my girlfriend to come and check the numbers again and she couldn't believe it either," Goreski said.
Goreski said he has no plans to retire since he recently bought a heating and cooling company. He's worked for the company for 20 years and in the past six years started to buy into the business.
This past fall, he bought the entire business and is in the middle of an expansion, the OLG said.
According to the Gas Plus website, Goreski co-owns the business "after nearly 20 years serving as an expert installer and supervisor."
Goreski was not at Gas Plus on Monday and did not immediately return a message left for him there.
"I have 12 to 15 people and their families depending on me, so I will continue on with the expansion and with work," Goreski said. "However, this windfall will definitely help make my future and that of my family much easier."
Goreski bought the winning ticket at the Circle K on 9th Street in Owen Sound.
Congrats Jason!
Now you can buy one of those cottages.
That is one very happy man in the picture.
Lady Fortune smiled upon Jason Goreski. Congratulations!!
He is 48 years old and will continue working. This will keep him sane and rich.
Yep. He's got GAS PLUS $33.4 mil
Kudos to him, feet firmly planted on the ground and very passionate for his business.
Go get your cottage.
Two feel good stories from our Northern neighbors.
aw .. i love this...
Only in his forties... late upper forties, still young, and not and OLD man yet,
older but not old, as dad puts it, so he has alot of time,
2nd part of his entire life to sit back relax no stress and just enjoy, and feel/be blessed and
i hope pay it forward, for so many in need as i know i would do that
Even if he is old senior past sixties seventies, it would be a great win still.
i hope he utilize it wisely, i think he will. congrats. love this story!
Jason can now make it official & put a ring on it. The gf is waiting. No excuse about not being able to afford a wedding. Make your move J.
Congrats
Fantastic win Jason. Congrats ! He may change his thought process after this win settles in and he completes the business expansion. Still, it's a great story