Canadian retires on the spot after $50-million Lotto Max group win
Being part of a group that won the Lotto Max jackpot is wild enough, but after claiming her share, one woman didn’t waste a moment and announced that retirement begins now.
News of a massive Lotto Max win shocked residents of Basse-Côte-Nord, a small community in eastern Quebec that can only be accessed by plane or boat. At the St-Paul’s River General Store in Bonne-Espérance, 14 people purchased a share in a Formule groupe Lotto Max ticket, hoping for a chance to win the top prize.
Group member Diana Griffin Blanche recalled that she was drinking coffee and checking the results the day after the draw when she discovered the life-changing news.
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“Check, but I think we won $50 million!” she told her friend and store employee, Malinda Griffin.
And she was right — during the Sept. 5 draw, the group had matched the six winning numbers 04, 16, 20, 30, 34, 46, and 50, scoring the $50-million Lotto Max jackpot.
News quickly spread, and other winners were soon tracked down through calls and word of mouth. A notebook in which store employees write down the names of group players proved handy in informing the other members that they were now multimillionaires. Eventually, the winners gathered at the general store for an impromptu party filled with cries of joy and emotions.
Along with their families, the winners gathered at Salmon Bay Farm in Rivière-Saint-Paul on Sept. 18 to claim their share of the winnings — each of them received a cheque for $3,571,428.
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Loretta Cabot Griffin, 70, who worked in fish processing, made an iconic move now that she’s a multimillionaire: she took off her hairnet and announced her retirement on the spot.
Another winner, road worker Adam Jones Fowler, discovered he was a winner through a video call.
“I think you won’t need to go back to work anymore,” Griffin joked. Fowler said he plans to reduce his hours to make time for his hobbies, such as hunting and fishing. Other winners shared their plans, with others looking forward to building a cottage, purchasing a new truck, or travelling with family.
The retailer will receive a one per cent commission of $500,000.
In addition to Griffin Blanche, Cabot Griffin, and Fowler, other winners include Faye Bilodeau, Charlotte F. Fequet, Malinda Griffin, Maud Griffin O’Brien, Deborah Ellen Goddard Griffin, Deborah Pennefather, Bradley O’Brien, Wanita Roberts, Carolyn Amy Sims, Della Tina Eleanor Spingle, and Lionel Spingle.
“The luck these winners have experienced will greatly impact many families as well as the entire Bonne-Espérance community,” said Isabelle Jean, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lottery Games at Loto-Québec.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.