Struggling waitress and war vet win big 6/49 jackpot

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO LOTTERY & GAMING CORPORATION

************************* $7.8 million jackpot a dream come true for Etobicoke lottery winners

TORONTO, May 11 - It's a dream come true for Etobicoke residents Peter Kaczmarczyk and Krystyna Skwira, the two winners sharing this weekend's $7.8 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot.

The close family friends, one a Polish veteran from the Second World War and the other a struggling waitress, have been buying lottery tickets together for four years, joking about what they would do when they win.

"Peter would tease me that he wouldn't let me go back to work at the coffee-shop if we won," said Skwira.

"Krystyna didn't believe that we were going to win, but we did!" Kaczmarczyk said, grinning from ear-to-ear.

The 52-year-old Skwira came to Canada in 1989 and has at times juggled multiple jobs.

In the last 21 years, she has only taken one short vacation.

Kaczmarczky says his friend is known for her heart of gold and her willingness to help others before she helps herself.

She attributes this quality to growing up in post-WW II Poland.

"It's a great feeling. Today is one of the first days since I came to Canada that I didn't have to go into work," said Skwira.

The 82-year-old Kaczmarczyk came to Canada in 1948, after fighting in the Second World War, and has lived in Toronto since, working as a cab driver for two decades before retiring.

Neither Skwira or Kaczmarczyk have been home to Poland in many decades, so a trip overseas is in the works for both of them.

The winning ticket was bought at M & S Kitchen Food Fair on Kipling Avenue in Etobicoke.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities.

Since 1975, OLG lotteries, casinos, slots, and resort casinos have generated more than $28 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario.

Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Know your limit, play within it!

The Ontario problem gambling helpline number is 1-888-230-3505.

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