A Canadian couple has beat the odds not once but three times, and are now celebrating their third lottery win.
Imogene Blake and Anthony Baptiste are the parents of two children and live in Barrie, Ontario. They are no strangers to winning the lottery, having won in 2015, 2017, and more recently in 2024.
Blake and Baptiste have played various lottery games together for over 30 years, and it seems their perseverance continues to pay off.
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Their first big win came in 2015 when they won a $250,000 Daily Keno prize.
“I was shaking,” recalled Blake when she learned about their six-figure win.
She shared the news with Baptiste, telling him to add up all their bills so they could pay them off and go on vacation.
Baptiste recalled giving her a big kiss after learning the news. They used their winnings to go on vacation for his 60th birthday.
This winning ticket was purchased at Hasty Market on Prince William Way in Barrie.
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Lady luck shone down on the couple again in 2017 when they discovered their biggest win.
Blake, a nurse, was on her way to work a 12-hour shift when she checked their ticket after the November 4, 2017, Lotto 6/49 draw. She saw their ticket was a winner, put it away, and headed to work.
It wasn’t until she was in the middle of her shift that she became curious about how much they had won.
“On my break, I pulled out my phone and used the OLG Lottery app. I counted the zeros and saw the commas — and there it was — one million dollars!” recalled Blake with a laugh.
Baptiste said they celebrated their second win by visiting Vancouver and exploring the Maritimes.
“Winning the lottery means financial freedom — no more mortgage, no more car payments and more independence to do what we want when we want,” said Blake.
The winning ticket was purchased at Wilson Variety on Wilson Avenue in North York.
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Blake and Baptiste were shocked when they learned they had won again, this time during the holiday season.
“We were at home when I scanned our ticket on the OLG app,” recalled Blake. “I brought the ticket to Anthony to share the good news, and we went to the store the next day to have our ticket validated.”
The couple had one of the five tickets that split a Lotto 6/49 prize in the Lotto 6/49 December 11, 2024 draw. As a result, they received a $59,864.40 prize.
“It felt amazing because we won this prize with numbers I’d chosen based on family birthdays,” Baptiste said with a smile. “No matter how big or small the prize, it feels special to win with numbers you picked yourself.”
The pair will celebrate this win by going on vacation.
The winning ticket was purchased at Young Convenience on Minet’s Point Road in Barrie.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, you can find resources here.