Retired New Brunswick resident Shaun Ryan held the winning ticket to a $50m Lotto Max jackpot for days before checking it, choosing to delay the reveal simply to enjoy the anticipation. The Atlantic Lottery announced on 10 November that Ryan, a resident of Dalhousie, a small town on Chaleur Bay in Restigouche County, successfully matched all seven numbers in the 6 November draw to take home the massive $50m prize. The decision to delay checking the ticket came after local chatter alerted Ryan that the sole winning ticket for the draw had been purchased somewhere within his home county. “My wife asked if we had a ticket and then my son texted me and asked if we bought one,” Ryan said in statements released by the Atlantic Lottery. “My wife asked if I was going to go check it and I said, 'No, not yet. I want to keep the dream alive.'” When Ryan eventually checked the numbers at his home, he realised every single digit on his slip aligned with the drawn combination. “Boom, boom, boom,” Ryan recalled of…
Canadian retiree delays checking lottery ticket, then discovers $50m win
In short
The Atlantic Lottery formally announced the historic win on November 10 after Ryan matched all seven numbers on his ticket. Beyond funding his wife's retirement and upcoming international travel, Ryan plans to distribute the capital among his seven children, his grandchildren, and northern New Brunswick community organizations. Meanwhile, the local Dalhousie Circle K that sold the winning slip will receive a substantial $500,000 commission under Atlantic Lottery rules. Any future investment returns derived from the initial tax-free sum will remain subject to standard Canadian taxation.
Key points
- The entire fifty million dollar jackpot is completely tax-free under Canadian tax regulat…: The entire fifty million dollar jackpot is completely tax-free under Canadian tax regulations.
- The life-changing payout allows Ryan's wife to retire from teaching and travel overseas.: The life-changing payout allows Ryan's wife to retire from teaching and travel overseas.
- A portion of the lottery windfall will be directed to assist community groups across nort…: A portion of the lottery windfall will be directed to assist community groups across northern New Brunswick.