A lottery player from Ontario is set for life after winning a massive Lotto Max jackpot.
Fergus resident Elizabeth Trafford is still coming to terms with the fact that her weekend routine turned into a life-altering experience after she won the $40 million Lotto Max jackpot from the December 10, 2024, draw.
“Every Saturday, I take my dog for a walk, then drive to a little nearby store to fill up with gas, grab a newspaper, and check my lottery tickets,” the retiree told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
OLG
She said the first lottery ticket she checked at the terminal was a no-go, but the second one “blew up” the machine.
“All I saw was ‘Big Winner!’ I spoke with an OLG representative who called the store. When they told me exactly how much I’d won, I started to hyperventilate!” she recalled.
Trying to grasp what was happening, Trafford went to her car and immediately called her son to share the news.
“His initial reaction was disbelief, and it took a few minutes for him to understand this was not a joke.”
Trafford says her son and his wife, who live in another community, jumped in their car and drove to Fergus to be with her.
She cried tears of joy when she logged into her bank account and saw a number in her account that very few people get to see in their lifetime.
“40 million, 107 dollars, and 93 cents! It’s gone up quite a bit. It’s in there now, and it’s quite something,” said Trafford, choking back her emotions during a recent OLG Winner Celebration.
OLG
Trafford says the brain fog from her Lotto Max win started to lift a few days later. She then began assembling the right professionals to help navigate the next exciting phase of her life.
One of the retiree’s biggest concerns was the security of her winning lottery ticket. “All of a sudden, I realized this little slip of paper with Quick Pick numbers, which I’d paid $6 for, was now worth $40 million!”
Once Trafford was announced the official winner of the $40 million Lotto Max jackpot by the OLG Prize Centre, she started to settle into her win, and her enthusiasm started to build.
“I see myself as a steward of this money. There’s so much good I can do with this windfall, and I want to give back in a meaningful way,” she told OLG. “In the coming months, I’ll work with the team I’ve gathered to identify and prioritize the causes and interests that are near and dear to me.”
Her first priority is to ensure her son is well taken care of.
“You always want to give something wonderful to your child. He will get a nice house, but I’m also comforted by the fact that he will inherit this legacy. It’s important to know that this will go on,” explained Trafford.
OLG
And, of course, she has some amazing plans for herself. Trafford says exploring the world is at the top of her bucket list.
“I’ve always wanted to travel, and that’s what I’ll get out of this win. I can now consider exotic places, and I think to myself, ‘I can actually do that now,’” she said.
Trafford had already planned a trip to South Africa before winning the $40 million Lotto Max prize. She’s now extending her visit to include a few more African countries and adding some special extras to the adventure as she settles into her new life as a multi-millionaire.
She became very emotional, thinking about the reaction of those with whom she shared the incredible news.
“It’s been an extraordinarily moving experience for me. They said, ‘If anyone deserves this, it’s you.’ This is quite something, and it’s very meaningful to me,” said Trafford.
She purchased her winning ticket at Blinkhorn’s Corner Variety on St. David Street North in Fergus.
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.