Cape Breton woman wins record-breaking $31-million lottery jackpot

NEW WATERFORD, N.S. — An 83-year-old Cape Breton woman says she plans to buy a “new-to-her” Cadillac with the $31-million lottery prize she claimed today. Marie McCarthy of New Waterford, N.S., says the winning ticket for the Jan.

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NEW WATERFORD, N.S. — An 83-year-old Cape Breton woman says she plans to buy a “new-to-her” Cadillac with the $31-million lottery prize she claimed today.

Marie McCarthy of New Waterford, N.S., says the winning ticket for the Jan. 31 Lotto Max draw was a birthday present from her grandson, Jeff.

McCarthy says she was in disbelief when the two of them first checked the numbers, which prompted Jeff to call Atlantic Lottery to verify the win.

When her grandson delivered the good news, she says her initial response was, “Yeah, right.”

The win marks the largest lottery prize ever awarded in the Maritimes.

The largest prize ever won in Atlantic Canada was $60 million in Newfoundland and Labrador in February 2018.

“It doesn’t seem real,” McCarthy said in a statement. “I never really thought about a bucket list or anything before, because I never figured I’d have the money to do anything on it.”

Aside from the Cadillac, McCarthy said she plans to share her winnings with her brothers and sisters, and pay off the mortgages of all her nieces and nephews.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2023.

The Canadian Press