A Canadian pensioner has defied extraordinary odds by scooping a lottery jackpot for the third time in less than a decade.
Marcel Leclaire, a 73-year-old former taxi driver, collected his latest prize at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming headquarters in Toronto, beaming as he posed with yet another oversized cheque.
The retired cabbie’s remarkable winning streak has now netted him roughly $4million in total since 2017.
Mr Leclaire most recent triumph adds $88,888 to a fortune that already includes a $3million win last year and a $1million prize nine years ago.
The pensioner’s latest windfall came from an Instant Lunar 8s scratch card purchased at a convenience shop in Greater Sudbury.
Mr Leclaire choice of ticket was inspired by ice hockey rather than chance alone.
“I’m a fan of David Pastrnak, and his jersey number is 88,” Mr Leclaire explained at the OLG Prize Centre.
The connection between the game’s name and his favourite player’s squad number proved fortuitous when he scratched off the winning combination while still inside the shop.
Marcel Leclaire has celebrated his third lottery win this decade
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OLG
Despite this being his third major victory, Mr Leclaire insisted the excitement remained undiminished.
“Even though it was my third big win, the feeling was just as intense as the first,” he said.
Mr Leclaire’s biggest haul came in 2025 when he walked away with $3 million after being drawn to a $30 Instant Platinum scratch card.
“This ticket was nice and shiny, and it caught my eye, so I bought it,” he recalled.
The ex-taxi driver collected his latest prize at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming headquarters
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His winning streak began back in 2017 through a different approach entirely, playing Encore, a $1 add-on lottery game that requires matching a seven-digit number in exact sequence.
The former cabbie initially misread his prize that first time.
“I checked my tickets at home and at first I thought I won $1,000 and then $10,000, but quickly I realized I had all the numbers – $1 million,” he said.
Mr Leclaire intends to put his latest windfall towards purchasing a new property whilst setting aside a portion for savings.
The cabbie, who played the lottery weekly according to comments made when collecting his previous prize, has seven siblings scattered across Canada.
His ultimate ambition extends beyond material purchases.
“My dream is to travel to visit family, taking time to see the country and reconnect with the people he loves,” he shared.
After nearly a decade of extraordinary luck, the former taxi driver appears determined to spend his fortune strengthening family bonds rather than simply accumulating wealth.
