Canada

Calgary friends win record $90-million Lotto Max jackpot

The four winners, who met through family, discovered their win in an email at 3 a.m. after the Oct. 20 draw.

By Elise Tremblay, Editor-in-Chief
November 7, 2026

CALGARY · Four friends from Calgary have been revealed as the winners of a record $90-million Lotto Max jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever awarded in Canada. Eidelson Elchico, Lovelyn Malvar, Hazeline Ong and Velna Ramirez claimed the prize from the Oct. 20 draw at a news conference on Friday. The group, who met about five years ago through family, had purchased their first ticket together after creating a text message group chat named "Manifesting Millions." The prize will be split equally four ways, amounting to $22.5 million per person.

Elchico discovered the win in the early hours after the draw. He woke up around 3 a.m. to get a glass of water and checked his email on his phone. He said he saw the winning notification and could not believe it. He initially thought the amount was $9,000 or $900, but his wife told him to check the lottery website. "It was true: $90 million was on hold, and we needed to call our friends," he said.

He immediately contacted the others in the group chat, sparking a flurry of calls. "I didn't answer the call, it was too early, but they called again and I thought it was an emergency," Ramirez said. Malvar said her first reaction was disbelief. "I thought it was a scam and I saw the email and I'm like, 'You definitely got scammed,'" she told reporters. The group said they have told only their spouses and close family members about the win until now.

The friends said the prize will allow them to enjoy life more, support their families and eliminate financial burdens like mortgages. Elchico became emotional discussing his plans, saying he feels a calling to help others. "I think there's something that I need to do for my community and my family," he said. "There's a lot of people that need help, and for me I think this is the way." The group also plans to donate part of their winnings to benefit the community, with the Alberta Children's Hospital mentioned as a possible recipient.

Despite the sudden wealth, all four winners said they are still working. "I need the distraction; it's too much," Malvar said with a laugh. Ramirez said it could take months or even a year for the reality to fully sink in. "It's pretty overwhelming. It's nerve-wracking. It took a week for it to actually sink in," Malvar added. "You just feel shocked. It's not something you would expect. Not in a million years."

The ticket was purchased through Play Alberta, which notifies winners electronically. Steve Lautischer, executive vice-president of business development with Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, said the story was as wholesome as it gets. "It's almost like this stuff writes itself. It's unbelievable how this has come together for this group," Lautischer said. The $90-million jackpot had climbed after several unclaimed draws. Nosy Mag reported in October that the Lotto Max jackpot had climbed to a record $85 million after no winner in a previous Friday draw.

With files from CityNews, CBC News and Global News