At 6:40 a.m. one morning in early September, Della Spingle and her husband Chesley Griffin were informed of their significant win. The news came from an employee at their general store in St-Paul’s River, Quebec, a store that has been serving the community since the ’80s. The employee revealed that Spingle was one of the 14 lucky winners of the $50 million Lotto Max jackpot, and the winning ticket was sold at their store.
This win, which came from a pool of tickets purchased by a group of residents over nearly 20 years, has transformed the small fishing village of St. Paul’s River. With approximately 150 residents, this win has turned around the lives of about 10% of the population who are now multimillionaires.
Spingle expressed her disbelief at winning $3.5 million, stating, “It was hard to believe this, right?” She added, “And I’ve been giggling ever since.”
Most of the winners, 13 out of 14, reside in St. Paul’s River, located in Bonne-Espérance, Quebec, around 60 kilometers west of the Newfoundland and Labrador border.
As the store owner, Chesley Griffin received an additional $500,000, representing one percent of the winnings. Griffin mentioned considering early retirement and highlighted the positive impact the win will have on local businesses, as winners are now investing in upgrades and long-awaited projects.
Mayor Dale Roberts-Keats shared her excitement, describing the moment as almost unbelievable, watching 14 members of the community become millionaires. She expressed hope that the town would also benefit from the win, potentially seeing new construction and homes being built.
Loretta Griffin, aged 74, plans to retire from her 30-year job at a fish plant. She looks forward to assisting her family with her share of the winnings, fulfilling requests such as a truck for her son and a new bedroom set for her daughter.
Bradley O’Brien, another winner, aims to support his children who live away from home. He emphasized the transformative impact of becoming a multimillionaire overnight in helping many people. Maud Griffin O’Brien, Bradley’s mother and a winner as well, humorously mentioned building a sunroom and light-heartedly noted she now has one less child to look after.
The lottery win has brought a wave of joy and opportunity to the tight-knit community of St. Paul’s River, promising positive changes and new beginnings for the lucky winners and the town as a whole.
