Life has changed dramatically for an Alberta couple now that they’ve won a massive Lotto Max.
Robin Walker and Brett McCoy were introduced Wednesday morning in St. Albert as the winners of a $60-million jackpot, the largest lottery win in Alberta’s history.
The couple is from the hamlet of Peers, Alta. in Yellowhead County, with a population of 98.
They were buying chicken feed at the McLeod Trading Post when they found out they had the winning ticket.
“I hollered out the door: ‘Brett, you got to see this! We won $60,000,'” Walker said. “The clerk looks and me and says: ‘Robin, you have to count the zeros.'”
“I’ve been buying tickets off and on for years,” McCoy said.
“You can’t win if you don’t buy one, right?” he laughed.
The Lotto Max jackpot was from the Sept. 22 draw. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission said the couple’s ticket was the only one sold to match all seven numbers.
The pair said they’d never won anything before, until a couple of weeks before the big jackpot.
McCoy won $100 two weeks in a row, along with a free play. That’s how they bought their winning ticket, and joked that the third time would be the charm.
“We said: ‘Brett won $100 two weeks in a row, so that means we are going to win the lottery,'” said Walker.
McCoy is a pipeliner. He said at this point he’s still working but is looking to take some time off.
“I’ve thought about it,” Mccoy said. “I haven’t quit yet.”
Walker is a stay-at-home mom with a hobby farm.
She has four kids. The youngest is four. The oldest is 16.
“They’re planning what they’re going to do with the money,” Walker said. “Ridiculous things. One of my sons has always wanted a steer trained to ride.”
The couple said the feeling is “surreal” and they don’t plan to make any big decisions right away.
“We’ll get a few things we need but we’re going to sit tight for now,” Walker said. “There’s so much to think about.”
They did, however, buy a new truck to make the more than 170-kilometre trek to St. Albert to pick up their giant cheque.
“When I found out how much it was I almost backed out because I thought, do we really need this?'” said Walker.
Walker and McCoy’s ticket was an $11 quick pick.
Watch below: They’re the winners of Alberta’s biggest lotto win. Quinn Ohler introduces us to the Yellowhead County couple who is $60-million richer.