“I took it to my mom’s. I made sure she could hide it for me,” said the recently turned 22-year-old bricklayer. “I brought it down to her right away.”
He won May 26 and the ticket was safely tucked away at his mother’s until he could claim his $675,000 prize at Atlantic Lottery Corporation offices in St. John’s the next day.
At a lunchtime ceremony at the Stone Jug in Carbonear on Wednesday the young man got to experience exactly that. In front of family members, Tylor claimed his prize and celebrated the big win.
Giant novelty cheque included.
The winning ticket was the second bought by Tylor. Coincidentally, the first ticket set up the purchase of the second.
On his first attempt, Tylor netted $10. Feeling good about his chances, he took a second shot at becoming Set For Life and headed for his girlfriend’s place.
That’s when he scratched
“On the way back, I was thinking what I was going to do if I won this,” said Tylor. “On the first game, I just jumped through the roof. I won. I didn’t even finish scratching the rest of the ticket.
“That was it — done.”
Taking the lump sum, Tylor has a couple of things planned already. There’s the obligatory toy purchases — a new ATV, trailer and boat — along with a new home. He’s already set to close on the house later this month.
That’s all fine, but what Tylor is really looking forward to doing is making sure his mother, Michelle, and young daughter are taken care off for years to come.
“This is going to mean she’s looked after,” said Tylor. “I’m going to give her what she needs. If she needs anything, all I am is a phone call away.”
That part is an important one for the younger Stewart. He told the crowd his mother was his best friend and lent a hand whenever he needed it in his life.
“She’s done a lot for me in my life and she’s been there for me through thick and thin. She helped support me and I’m going to make sure she’s honoured,” said Tylor. “She’s a wonderful mom. She looks after everyone … and now it’s time for her to get looked after.”
His daughter was also at the top of the list when it came to family who were going to benefit for his. Tylor indicated nothing was going to be able to hold her back.
Sky was the limit, so to speak, and she’ll never be left wanting, according to him.
“By the way the economy is going, by the time she reaches 20 it’ll be expensive for her to go to school,” said Tylor. “I want to make sure she can do whatever she wants.”
In a way, the news still hasn’t sunk in for Tylor, although it’s getting a bit deeper now.
“I got a call from CIBC that my money was in the bank. Now, it’s really real,” said Tylor. “I’m pretty excited and I’ll be more excited when all of this gets situated and I can see it there myself.”
