Lois Olsen of Irma, Alta. has her sights on a new ride after winning a $50-million Lotto Max jackpot earlier this month.
Olsen, who won the Nov. 11 Lotto Max draw, picked up her cheque on Wednesday afternoon in St. Albert. The long-time Irma resident said her first order of business is to help out her family.
“I have my kids, my grandkids, my great-grandkids,” she said. “It will help my entire family.”
After that, she’s got a few other ideas in mind.
“I’m thinking of buying a new SUV, and I’m hoping to do some travelling,” Olsen said. “I used to travel a lot, and I’d like to do a little more now.”
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Olsen bought her game-winning ticket at the Irma Co-op. She realized she won the jackpot one day after the draw.
“I took my ticket to the store and scanned it,” she said. “I was speechless!”
“It was surprising and stressful all at once. I really just wanted to get out of the store and get my ticket home.”
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Lady luck has been on Albertans’ side recently. Olsen was one of three Alberta residents to pick up big lottery wins over a two-day period.
A Coaldale man won $1.2 million on the same Lotto Max draw as Olsen. Robert Miller said he had to scan his ticket a few times to make sure he actually won.
“I left the store, but I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I took the ticket back inside and checked it again – it was still a winner!”
Miller said he’s use the money to travel, set up education funds for his grandchildren and replace his wife’s vehicle.
“My retirement is certainly looking good,” he added. “I’m very happy!”
Edmonton resident Suryanarayana Bora also recently became a millionaire, winning $7 million in the Daily Grand lottery. Bora won the Daily Grand’s $1,000-a-day for life jackpot on Nov. 10. He chose to take the prize in a one-time payment of $7 million.
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The first thing he’ll do with the money is pay off the mortgage on his home and pay a few other bills.
“My wife and I have worked hard all our lives and made sacrifices for our family. But we’ve haven’t had much extra,” Bora said. “I’m just so happy to know that I will be able to take care of my family – now and in the years to come.”