Saskatchewan couple wins $20M lottery jackpot

Feb 19, 2010, 8:29 am (7 comments)

Canada 6/49

Saskatchewan's most recently minted multi-millionaires may have traveled to their press conference in a limousine Thursday, but the couple say they are simple people who just happened to have won $20 million.

"Hopefully things won't change a lot," said Craig MacDonald, who with his wife Lorna is the winner of the Jan. 23 Lotto 6/49 draw.

"We may take a little more time for ourselves, maybe a bit more vacation," Craig said.

"We'll be learning a lot more about finance."

"We're very simple people and we hope to stay that way," said Lorna, who joined her husband for the Saskatchewan Lotteries presentation of their $20 million check Thursday in Saskatoon.

Craig purchased a $5 ticket, with two Quick Picks and one Extra, from the Carrot River Pharmacy. He didn't check his ticket for two weeks.

When the clerk told him he had won a lot of money, he thought it would be $100.

"I didn't believe it for a while," he said. After the clerks called and confirmed with the lottery hotline he rushed down the street to tell his wife in a hurry, as news was already spreading "like wildfire" across the community of about 1,000 people.

Lorna said she thought it was a joke until the pharmacy owner congratulated them.

"We'll have fun spending it," she said.

The couple said they hope to fix up their cabin and share their prize with family members.

"One family doesn't need that much money," Craig said.

Their adult children are "pretty excited," said Lorna. "It'll help a lot of people, not just our immediate family."

Craig works as a non-foods manager at the community Co-op and Lorna is a loans officer at the local credit union. They aren't sure whether the big win will mean an early retirement, but say they will likely plan to do a bit of traveling, something they've never done before.

The couple, who regularly bought lottery tickets, are among the top lotto winners in Saskatchewan.

In September 2009, a Super 7 ticket worth $23.9 million was purchased in Swift Current, and on Jan. 8, a Lotto Max ticket worth $20 million was purchased in Grayson.

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StarPhoenix

Comments

konane's avatarkonane

Congratulations to them, hope their win brings much happiness! Party

canyon

Another winner trusting the clerk to do what's right!!!  Please people check your own tickets!!!

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Congrats to the MacDonald's on their win!

kaizon7's avatarkaizon7

Great news...!!!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

All that money and you're not allowed to defend yourself in that country. I'd leave.

grave

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Feb 19, 2010

All that money and you're not allowed to defend yourself in that country. I'd leave.

Good point rdgrnr

grave

Quote: Originally posted by canyon on Feb 19, 2010

Another winner trusting the clerk to do what's right!!!  Please people check your own tickets!!!

I Agree!......this could have turned into another story like willis willis in texas......

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