$100,000 email comes as a life-changing message for Burlington resident

It’s a good thing it didn’t end up in her spam folder.

That’s what Barbara Barnes of Burlington must be thinking about an email she received in August.

The email, from Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) informed her she had won $100,000 in the Aug. 10 draw of Lottario.

Barnes’ Encore play matched the last six of seven numbers in exact order which earned her the $100,000 prize.

“I received a notification on my cellphone that said I had yet to claim my winnings. I logged into my OLG.ca account and saw that I had won $100,000,” Barnes said. “I had my husband check to make sure what I was seeing was right. We were shocked!”

Seeking to confirm that the email she received was real, Barbara called OLG’s Customer Care department. “When the person on the other end said I had reached OLG, I knew it was true! I shared the news with my daughter, and she couldn’t stop screaming with joy,” she said.

Recently retired, Barnes said she looks forward to putting some of her windfall towards a vacation.

“At first, you don’t believe it and you have to keep telling yourself it’s real. Over time, the feeling starts to change, as it sinks in,” she said.

The winning ticket was purchased on OLG.ca.