TORONTO -- A Polish World War II veteran and a struggling waitress from Toronto are joint winners of a $7.8-million Lotto 6-49 jackpot.
Peter Kaczmarczyk and Krystyna Skwira have been buying lottery tickets together for four years.
The 52-year-old Skwira, who came to Canada in 1989, has at times juggled multiple jobs and in the last 21 years and only taken one short vacation.
Kaczmarczyk says his friend is known for her heart of gold and her willingness to help others before she helps herself.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Neither Skwira nor Kaczmarczyk have been home to Poland in many decades, so a trip overseas is in the works for both of them.
"Krystyna didn't believe that we were going to win, but we did!" Kaczmarczyk said Tuesday.
"It's a great feeling," said Skwira. "Today is one of the first days since I came to Canada that I didn't have to go into work."
"Peter would tease me that he wouldn't let me go back to work at the coffee shop if we won," Skwira added.
