Sarnia man wins $16.6 million in Lotto Max draw

Friday's Lotto Max draw made one Sarnia man very, very happy. And rich.

Jon Hines, a 61-year-old retiree and widower, has been playing the lottery since the '70s.

He won $2,000 last July, but his luck did not end there.

"I knew exactly what I'd won. I was in shock. I just started crying," he told the London Free Press.

Soon his children and brother were celebrating at his house. Excitement built as he shared the news with extended family.

"They thought I was pulling their leg. They didn't believe me."

By Monday, Hines was at Toronto's OLG office, having his photo taken while holding a $16.6 million cheque.

His immediate plans for his new-found wealth include replacing his 2002 Toyota Camry. He says he'll also share the riches with his two adult children, and hopes to build a solar-powered dream home in the country.

Sarnia's newest millionaire offers perseverance encouragement to would-be lottery winners:

"Keep playing. You never know when it could be you."