First-year university student from northern Ontario wins $48M in lottery, making history
Canada's newest millionaire has achieved a lot of firsts with a recent lottery win.
Juliette Lamour is an 18-year-old first-year student at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., who won the $48 million jackpot in a Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw last month.
Juliette Lamour of Sault Ste. Marie collects her $48million lottery win. Feb. 3/23 (Mike McDonald/CTV Northern Ontario)
Not only is she the youngest person in Canada to ever win a jackpot of this size, but she also won on her very first lottery purchase, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said.
"While there have been other 18-year-old lottery winners across Canada in recent years, no one has won as much as Juliette," OLG said in a news release.
Wearing a black suit and facemask, the Garden River First Nation member was presented with her big cheque by officials at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation at the Sault Ste. Marie headquarters in front of a group of reporters Friday morning.
Lottery winner Juliette L. of Sault Ste. Marie (right) stands next to her $48 million cheque presented by OLG. Feb. 3/23 (Chelsea Papineau/CTV Northern Ontario)
Having just turned 18, Lamour said her grandfather had suggested she buy the ticket for fun.
"When I went to the store, I wasn't sure what to ask for because I had never bought a ticket before. So I called my dad, who told me to buy a Lotto 6/49 quick pick," she said.
"I still can't believe I hit the Gold Ball jackpot on my very first lottery ticket."
Hers was the single winning ticket in the Jan. 7 draw and was purchased at Circle K on McNabb Street in Sault Ste. Marie.
DISCOVERING THE WIN
Lamour said she had forgotten about the ticket until hearing while at work the winning one was purchased in Sault Ste. Marie.
They found out she was the big winner when her co-worker scanned her ticket with his app.
"My colleague fell to his knees in disbelief," she said.
"He was yelling, in fact, everyone was yelling, that I won $48 million! I didn't understand what was going on at first. I couldn't process the news. We kind of made a scene in the store that day."
She said she called home with shock, excitement and happy tears to tell her parents the news.
"I knew I couldn't focus on work and my boss told me I could go home, but my mom wanted me to stay and finish my shift," Lamour said.
"My colleagues called out 'come and get her,' and my parents eventually came to pick me up."
WHAT IS NEXT?
Lamour told the crowd that she plans to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and practising medicine in northern Ontario.
"I wanted to go to medical school before winning the lottery. Now, I can pursue this dream without worrying about grants or loans," she said.
"As a member of the Garden River First Nation community, I was eligible for educational assistance programs, but I no longer need those resources which means someone else in the community can benefit from that funding. I really want to come back to this area as a doctor so I can give back to my community."
Her father is a financial planner, so she said most of her winnings will be invested.
Focusing on finishing her studies this year is a priority, Lamour said, but she will be planning some adventures for this summer.
"Once school is done, my family and I will pick a continent and start exploring. I am not a 'sit on the beach'-type of person. I want to experience different countries, study their history and culture, try their food, and listen to their language," she said.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Upon hearing the news of her win, she said she received some words of wisdom from loved ones that she will never forget.
"Money doesn’t define you, it’s the work you do that will define you,’" she said she was told.
"While I am so excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, I feel comforted knowing I am surrounded by the grounding love of my family. They will be with me on every step of this incredible journey."
CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca streamed the news conference live and the video will be uploaded shortly for viewing.
OTHER BIG WINNERS FROM NORTHERN ONTARIO
The $48 million prize is the latest huge win for someone from northern Ontario.
In March 2021, a couple from Noelville -- near Greater Sudbury -- won $70 million playing Lotto Max.
In September 2020, it was announced a retired couple from Hearst won a $65-million Lotto Max jackpot.
James Wickman and his wife Eerikka drove almost 10 hours to Toronto in a rented coach bus with around two dozen family members to pick up their prize.
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY
Playsmart offers information on gambling games.
If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, help is available.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.