LONDON, Ont. - "Hoping to win, helping the cause," is how 81-year-old Dream Lottery winner Walter Ostanek characterizes his reason for buying Dream Lottery tickets. He bought his first one many years ago in a trip through London and has been buying them ever since.
"They mail me a reminder, I mail them a cheque," Ostanek says.
When he came from St. Catharines to pick up his $1 million prize cheque today, the triple Grammy Award winning musician known as the "Polka King" brought his famous accordion with him to the Western Counties Wing Auditorium at Parkwood Institute, where he played a series of popular medleys for an appreciative group of military veterans.
When the impromptu concert was suggested, Ostanek, didn't hesitate. He just made sure to bring his friend, keyboardist Wayne Malton to help. This isn't the first time Ostanek played there.
"I really enjoyed this," he says. "People are my life. If I can make people happy a little bit, it's my pleasure."
Ostanek, who started playing the accordion at age 9, also started playing lotteries at age 14. He's been playing lots of lotteries ever since, but this is the first substantial prize he's won. He didn't believe the news at first. He was playing his regular gig at Marineland in Niagara Falls, where he's worked for 32 years, when a friend asked him, "How does it feel to be a millionaire?"
"Yeah, right," Ostanek replied.
But his friend, who works the PA system at the park, persisted. The friend connected him with a local radio station and after an interview, Ostanek still had some doubts - until he spoke with lottery officials. Even then, he says it really didn't sink in until after he was in bed later that night. Once it did, he "didn't sleep a wink."
Constantly on the go with road trips, concerts and TV shows in addition to his Marineland commitment, he was asked if the win will allow him to slow down a bit. He answered, "It's up to the good Lord, because I'm not selling my accordion!"
The 50/50 PlusTM winner Dr. Dale Wilson also has a connection to the veterans at Parkwood. The family practice doctor from London cared for veterans at the facility for more than 20 years before moving to focus on geriatric mental health. He's also worked in palliative care.
Wilson was on early morning rounds at the hospital when the draw was made but he didn't stop to take calls or pages about the lottery. He kept his focus on his patients. After he got back to the family practice clinic, he was told that his name was all over social media.
Like Ostanek, Wilson didn't really believe it at first. When lottery officials were finally able to get a hold of him later that day, his response was, "We've been supporting Dream Lottery for years. We're thrilled."
When he left the clinic late that evening, he had the big display cheque announcing his $475,935 win under one arm and the clinic's laundry in the other.
There were a total of 1,038 prizes that were awarded in the lottery's final draws on July 11 and 12 under the supervision of accountants of record from the firm Deloitte LLP. The primary purchaser of each winning ticket will be contacted by phone and/or mail. The names of major prize winners will be published on Thursday, July 21 in the Our London newspaper. A complete list of winners will also be posted on-line at www.dreamitwinit.ca the same day. All lottery rules, along with details on prizes and cash alternatives are listed on the lottery website at www.dreamitwinit.ca.
- 30 -
Together, London Health Sciences Centre, Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, and St. Joseph's Health Care London receive more than 1.5 million patient visits from across Southwestern Ontario and beyond each year. In addition to caring for London-area residents, the hospitals are referral centres providing specialized services in support of the excellent care of the region's community hospitals.
Dream Lottery - lottery licence: 7949 50/50 PlusTM - lottery licence: 7954
For More Information about St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation:
Laura Janecka, Communications Officer, Marketing and Communications (519) 646-6000 (ext. 65449) or Laura.Janecka@sjhc.london.on.ca www.sjhcfoundation.org
For More Information about Dream Lottery or London Health Sciences Foundation:
Alexander Peterson, Manager, Public Relations (519) 685-8527 or Alexander.Peterson@lhsc.on.ca www.lhsf.ca
For More Information about Children's Health Foundation:
Shaun McGill, Communications Director (519) 432-8062 (ext. 125) or smcgill@childhealth.ca www.childhealth.ca