A St. Catharines man has won $500,000 off a $5 instant lottery ticket.

Glenn Wicks took home the top prize after winning the chance to spin THE BIG SPIN Wheel at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.

“I play a variety of lottery games,” said Wicks in a news release issued by the OLG. “I’ve won $20 or $40 on occasion – never anything this big!”

The 56-year-old crossing guard was on his way home from donating blood when he decided to go into a convenience store on Welland Ave. “I stopped at Avondale after getting off the bus and decided to buy a BIG SPIN ticket because I had heard of a number of winners with this game,” he said.

Wicks checked his ticket at the store and the machine froze. “When the retailer couldn’t pay my prize, I knew I won more than $1,000. When I found out that I won the chance to spin THE BIG SPIN Wheel, I was excited,” said Wicks.

A spin on the wheel guarantees a prize of $100,000 to $500,000.

Wicks plans on doing some home renovations with his winnings. “This money will make everyday life a little more comfortable,” he said.