Ontario woman wins $40 million jackpot?

A lottery player from Ontario has won a massive Lotto Max jackpot, ensuring a worry-free life from now on.

Fergus resident Elizabeth Trafford won the $40 million Lotto Max jackpot in the December 10, 2024 draw. Her weekend routine turned into a life-changing experience.

"Every Saturday, I take my dog for a walk, then drive to a nearby small store to get gas, buy a newspaper, and check my tickets," the retiree told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

She said the first ticket she checked at the terminal didn't win, but the second one made the machine "explode."

"All I saw was 'Big Winner!' I spoke with an OLG representative who called the store. When they told me exactly how much I had won, I started hyperventilating!" she recalled.

To make sense of what had happened, she went to her car and immediately called her son to tell him the news.

"His initial reaction was disbelief, and it took a few minutes before he realized it wasn't a joke."

Trafford said her son and daughter-in-law, who live in another community, jumped in their car and drove to Fergus to be with her.

When she logged into her bank account and saw a number few people see in a lifetime, she cried tears of joy.

"$40,000,107.93! That's a big increase! It's all there in the account, and it's a huge amount!" Trafford said, fighting back tears at a recent OLG winner celebration.

Trafford said that a few days later, the mental fog from winning the Lotto Max jackpot began to lift. Then she started assembling the right professionals to help her navigate the next exciting chapter of her life.

One of the retiree's biggest concerns was the security of her winning ticket. "Suddenly, I realized that this little slip of paper with Quick Pick numbers, which I bought for $6, was now worth $40 million!"

Once the OLG centre announced that Trafford had officially won the $40 million Lotto Max jackpot, she began to enjoy the thrill of victory, and her enthusiasm grew.

"I see myself as the steward of this money. I can do a lot of good with this windfall, and I want to give back in a meaningful way. Over the next few months, I'll work with the team I've assembled to identify and prioritize causes and interests that are close to my heart."

Her top priority is ensuring her son is well taken care of. "You always want to give your child something good. He'll get a nice house, but I'm also comforted that he'll inherit this legacy. It's important to know that this will continue."

Of course, she also has some great plans for herself. Trafford said exploring the world is at the top of her bucket list.

"I've always wanted to travel, and now I can make that dream come true. Now I can consider going to exotic places, and I tell myself, 'I can really do this now,'" she said.

Before winning the $40 million jackpot, Trafford had already planned a trip to South Africa. Now, she'll expand her travels to include more African countries and add some special touches to the adventure to suit her new life as a multi-millionaire.

"This has been a very moving experience for me. They said, 'If anyone deserves this, it's you.' That means a lot to me," Trafford said.

She purchased her winning ticket at Blinkhorn's Corner Variety on St. David Street North in Fergus.

Source: Canadian City News