A retired human resources manager and a rancher are both taking home $60 million Lotto Max jackpots.
John Henry and Joan Patterson both won Lotto Max draws worth $60 million, Ontario Lottery and Gaming announced on Wednesday.
Henry, from Mississauga, Ont., said he was initially shocked to discover that he had won the big prize.
"It takes a while to sink in, and I'm not sure it's sunk in yet. But it feels great," he told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.
He said he plans to use some of his money to take a holiday with his family, and do a few renovations on his house. Otherwise, he said he hopes his life changes "as little as possible" despite his significant windfall.
"We're not people who are into material things all that much and I don't think we will get into material things," he said.
Henry said he also plans to open a charitable foundation to support children's athletics and health programs.
The retired grandfather won the Dec. 25 draw last year, and checked his ticket on Boxing Day after his usual morning walk. When it dawned on him that he had the winning numbers, he said he immediately grew concerned about keeping the ticket safe.
But the fact that it was a holiday weekend posed a challenge for him, as he couldn't get to the bank to put the ticket in a safe deposit box. "The darn thing felt like a hot potato," he joked in a statement.
Beyond helping family and friends and completing some home repairs, Henry said he may also consider going to the Kentucky Derby with his winnings.
"I've always enjoyed horse racing," he said.
'Very exciting'
Patterson, the other winner announced on Wednesday, said she's elated to have won the jackpot.
"I'm beside myself with this … it's very exciting," she told reporters at the news conference.
Patterson, who is a rancher from Desboro, Ont., won the jackpot in the Feb. 5 draw. She said she plans to use some of the money to make some repairs to her property.
"I'm a rancher from a rural area. Horses and animals are my life," she said. "First thing I'm going to do is re-fence the ranch. That might not sound very exciting to the general public, but it is to me."
Patterson said she also plans to buy a new horse trailer and a "sporty car" to cruise around in during the summertime. Her car of choice? A Corvette, preferably in silver, she said.
Like Henry, she also plans to establish a charitable foundation to support causes dear to her heart, including hospitals, children with life-threatening illnesses, animals in need, and the Salvation Army.
And while she is also concerned about how her life might change with her winnings, she says she's just going to take things "one step at a time."
