Only three months after buying his first lottery ticket, Aurora resident Matin Kelidisian has hit the jackpot, winning $1.4 million.
The 19-year-old apprentice said he started screaming and shaking when he found out he had won $1,430,311 in the Dec. 21, 2024 Lottario draw.
"I went to the store to have my ticket validated," Kelidisian said. "When I saw the prize amount, I immediately started running around the store. With pure joy, I screamed, ‘I won. I won.’
"The other customers in the store were looking at me like I was crazy, but I didn’t care. It was the happiest moment ever. My face was red and I was shaking. It was electrifying — like a thousand shocks coursing through my body. The clerk offered me water and suggested I take a seat to catch my breath.
“I called my parents, who were out shopping at the time, and they dropped everything and got to me within 10 minutes. When my mom saw me, her reaction was priceless. She was crying tears of joy and telling everyone in the store how deserving I was of this prize. Hearing my mom speak those kind words was such a beautiful feeling.
“I’m so thankful for this win. I feel blessed to have won this jackpot at my age,” Kelidisian added. “I’m so happy I can help my parents, especially after everything they’ve done for me. I want to help them with bills and their mortgage, easing a bit of stress.
"I want to pay off my sister’s student loans and invest for the long term. I’ve never been outside of Canada, so I think I’ll treat myself to a few trips. First stop —The Dominican.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Andrew’s Convenience on Bayview Avenue in Aurora.