James Wickman of Hearst loaded 24 family members on a rented coach bus and drove almost ten hours to OLG’s Prize Centre in Toronto. He was excited and anxious to collect his massive $65 million jackpot from the Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Lotto Max draw.
“The last time I won a big prize was in 1972 – $5,000 in a gas station contest,” recalled the 67-year-old retired electrical contractor. “Back then $5,000 was big money, but nothing compared to hitting a $65 million jackpot. Wow!”
James was in his vehicle when he heard on the radio there was one winning ticket sold in the Timiskaming/Cochrane region for the $65 million LOTTO MAX draw and thought, “I just may be that winner.”
He rushed home to check his ticket using the OLG Lottery App and saw a message that he had won $65 million. “I showed my wife the message on the app, but she couldn’t believe it and thought it was an error,” said James. “So, I went to the store to have the ticket checked through the lottery terminal and that’s when all the bells and whistles went off!” James’ daughter, one of his four adult children, was at the store with him when he got confirmation of the win. She was overwhelmed and called the rest of her siblings to share the tremendously good news.
James is a regular lottery player, buying one or two tickets a week. “I always ask the retailer for Quick Pick numbers and that’s what won me the jackpot,” he smiled.
Regarding plans for this life-changing windfall, James says he now has a team of advisors to help him with this monumental task. He is certain he wants to share the winnings with his four children and will set up trust funds for his 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren. “I want to make sure I set them up well for the rest of their lives.” He then joked, “But I am still not sure what I am going to do with the other $64 million!”
The winning ticket was purchased at the Canadian Tire Gas Bar on Front Street in Hearst.