 Paul Cooper holds up his cheque for $4 million yesterday. He originally thought he'd won $4,000. (Michael Peake, Sun Media)
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TORONTO - Paul Cooper was happy enough expecting a $4,000 cheque in his mail until a lottery official told him it would be a tad more -- 1,000 times greater, in fact.
Still stunned by what Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. supervisor Sharon Johnson told The Sun is the biggest-ever upgraded win, Cooper was surrounded by family when he picked up his $4 million yesterday.
"I didn't believe it," said the 62-year-old Elmira grandfather of five. "I was thrilled with the $4,000."
Video: Elmira man wins $4M in Lotto Super 7
The clerk who checked the Super 7 ticket after the Sept. 7 draw also told him "you've won $4,000," Coope r said.
A manager with Team Truck Centre in Kitchener, he was having lunch when Johnson reached his cellphone.
"She said, 'Are you sitting down? I have some great news'!" he recalled.
Last night, he planned to tell the clerk, a neighbour, who sold him the ticket.
He'll pay university tuitions for his grandchildren and the rest "will stay in the bank."
The millionaire also plans to keep on working.
