41.7 Million Reasons Why in Beaumont!

LOTTO MAX Win is the Largest Single Claim in Alberta

WINNIPEG, May 5 /CNW/ - Cameron Blair believes everything happens for a reason. And while it might take the Beaumont man some time to understand why he's the $41.7 Million LOTTO MAX(TM) winner, he knows that his friends and family will be with him as he tries to answer that question.

"Why me?" commented Cameron during his interview. "There's a reason why this happened to me, and I guess I have 41 million reasons to figure that out," he said with a laugh.

A few weeks ago, Cameron was laid off from his welding job. When he saw the advertised $41 Million LOTTO MAX Jackpot for the upcoming April 23rd draw, he decided to buy a couple $11 LOTTO MAX Quick Pick tickets from Shell Select at 708 Parsons Road in Edmonton. "If it wasn't for the fact that I got laid off, I may never have bought the ticket," Cameron said.

While visiting his parents on the weekend following the Friday night draw, Cameron's mother offered to check the LOTTO MAX tickets he had put on the table. It wasn't long before she started shouting, "You won!" Cameron's father double-checked the ticket, and said, "You did win. You have all seven numbers." Still not realizing just what that meant, they looked on the Internet and learned that the LOTTO MAX Jackpot - worth $41,716,532.70 - had been won by one lucky ticket, and Cameron held that ticket in his hands.

Cameron started thinking right away about how his win would change his life. "Of course you dream - going on trips all over the world, buying cars, living the life you dream of. But now I know that I won't do that. It's not who I am. Right now I want to really sit down and figure this out."

While the Millionaire does plan to take his time, he has done a little spending already. Cameron's first big expenditure will be paying off his mortgage. He also plans to give some money to his parents so that they can retire. He said he wants to finish his schooling, earn his journeyman ticket and then continue working, likely for himself.

On Cameron's wish list is a trip to Scotland to see the birthplace of his ancestors.

"Mostly, I just want to make sure my life will stay as normal as it can. Sure, I could take the $41 Million and get lost in Mexico or some place and live the dream, but is that the purpose? No. I don't think that's what it's about."

    
    $41.7 Million LOTTO MAX Windfall - Fact Sheet
    ---------------------------------------------

    -  The winning LOTTO MAX numbers on April 23rd were: 8, 11, 16, 21, 24,
       28 and 41; the Bonus number was 37

    -  To win the Jackpot prize, Cameron exactly matched all seven main
       numbers on one line

    Although Cameron's windfall is third-largest lottery prize ever won on a
ticket purchased in Alberta, it's the largest ever claimed by one person. The
two larger amounts won in Alberta were:

    -  $54.3 Million won by a group of 17 oil and gas workers in Camrose on
       the October 26, 2005 LOTTO 6/49 draw

    -  $49.8 Million won by a group of 13 human resource workers in Edmonton
       on May 20, 2009 LOTTO 6/49 draw


    Top Canadian Lottery Jackpots (June 12, 1982 - present)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Game        Date               Prize Amount   Number of  Winning
                                                  Winning    Ticket(s)
                                                  Tickets    Sold In:
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  October 25, 2005   $54,294,712.00     1      Camrose, Alberta
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  February 21, 2009  $50,298,932.00     4      Ontario (3);
                                                             Quebec
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO MAX   February 26, 2010  $50,000,000.00     2      British
                                                             Columbia;
                                                             Ontario
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO MAX   November 6, 2009   $50,000,000.00     1      Sagkeeng First
                                                             Nation, Manitoba
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  May 20, 2009       $49,851,871.00     1      Edmonton,
                                                             Alberta
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  August 6, 2008     $45,145,712.00     2      Ontario; Quebec
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  January 24, 2009   $44,451,939.00     3      Ontario (3)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  August 12, 2006    $43,222,344.00     4      Ontario (3);
                                                             Quebec
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO MAX   April 23, 2010     $41,716,532.70     1      Edmonton,
                                                             Alberta
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  March 20, 2010     $41,329,148.00     2      Edmonton,
                                                             Alberta; Ontario
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO MAX   January 8, 2010    $40,000,000.00     2      Grayson,
                                                             Saskatchewan;
                                                             Quebec
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOTTO 6/49  June 13, 2007      $40,000,000.00     2      Ontario (2)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

For further information: AGLC: Lynn Hutchings-Mah, [phone]; WCLC: Andrea Marantz, 1-800-665-3313 ext 1397