Laura Tutcho from Yellowknife is the winner of the $55 million Lotto Max jackpot, the NWT & Nunavut Lotteries announced on Monday, putting to an end the mystery of who won the giant prize of May 1.
The winning is the largest lottery jackpot the NWT has ever seen, the organization said.
“I’m just beside myself. It’s so exciting and overwhelming!” said Tutcho.
image courtesy of NWT and Nunavut Lotteries
She bought the winning ticket for $11 at the Reddi Mart convenience store in Yellowknife.
“My granddaughter told me that someone in Yellowknife won the jackpot,” she remembered. “So I went on the internet to check the numbers.”
Tutcho was the only player in Canada to match all seven main winning numbers in the draw – 3, 12, 25, 36, 37, 42, and 49.
“I was in shock! “I said, ‘Oh, my god!’ My grandkids came in right away, and my grandson asked, ‘Are you all right, Grandma?’”
“I just kept looking at the ticket, and looking back at the numbers. My granddaughter told me, ‘The numbers haven’t changed, Grandma!’”
Since she learned about her win, she has been consulting with financial advisers and making future plans for the money.
“Her priority is to use the money to help her immediate family,” the organization said.
Originally from Délı̨nę, Tutcho has worked as a freelance interpreter and dedicated her efforts towards the revitalization of the Sahtúgot’ı̨ne language.
Congratulations Laura Tutcho, hopefully I’ll win the big jackpot someday like you, again congrats I’m happy for you.
Congratulations Iam sure you deserve it !
Happy for you winning the “Jackpot”. Spend it wisely. 👍
Congratulations laura tutcho god bless
Your so lucky 🍀 you deserve it 🙏🏼
Yay 👏🏼
Omg!! Super happy for you & Congratulations Laura Tutcho . 👍💯😊😎🥰❤
Way to go hope you get to enjoy life
Congratulations!! Enjoy 💖
Love and love, I know you will do well 💞
Wow.. awesome good for u and ur Grandbabies!!
Congrats Laura Tutcho ,Awesome To Hear Someone Like You has Won-Well Deserved! Enjoy It Wisely.
Congrats you were blessed and your family
Awesome!happy for u n your family!
Congratulations to you and your family so happy for you.
Hello ! I’m so happy for you. Grandchildren are special. They are sacred in our lives as Grandmothers. I am 61 & single with 10 grandchildren. I know our struggles in life. Im so happy that you & your family are blessed by your winnings. Prayers & love 💕🦅💕
It’s nice to see someone so dedicated to her people and culture win 😁
– congratulations, to you, and your Family, I am Happy For You, spend it, Well, lol Levi Noah Nochasak, Nain,NL
Congratulations to you Laura and all the best for you and your family. Someday I hope to be as lucky as you.
can I have $2000.00 please, lol, jk…Happy for you, may you and your family enjoy life to the fullest, congrats…
That must’ve have been a happy day for you, congratulations
Wow…. Congratulations!!!
Wow…I am so happy for you and your family…so nice to see this go to our sisters💞👍may peace and happiness follow.
Awesome windfall 👏🏽 Congratulations. Language is very important.
Congrats to you.
Congratulations Laura Tutcho may you be blessed in everything you do with your winnings.
Congratulations.May you enjoy life to the fullest.
This is just awesome! Congrats to you and may all your dreams and plans coming be true!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.
Blessings to you and your family. Thank you for your dedication to promote and preserve your native language.
Enjoy 😊 😘💝🙏🙏🙏
Congratulations kokum!! Would be awesome to win that,, and helping her family aww her grandkids will be able to go to college and not have to worry about rent or books with a trust fund, I would do with my children make sure they get an education n also if I was lucky as her I’d also do something for my community,, Kokum can do what ever she wants now 😊 yay congratulations on your big win 🥳
💐🌖💐 Congratulations Laura Tutcho, i’m happy for you💐🌖💐
WoW, Congratulations, for sure! That is so Nice!
That’s awesome. Congratulations. Take care and be careful.
Live Out the Dream; Laura…💐
Spend iT And INVEST iT; Wisely for your Family and Grandchildren’s Education…
Laura I am so happy for you and your family. I hope that you enjoy what this windfall brings you and being a grandparent too I hope you enjoy spoiling the heck out of your grandkids! All the best to you and your family, be safe and be strong!
Congradulations i am very happy for you on your winnings enjoy and definatly spoil your grandkids
Congratulations on your big win! It’s also nice to know that your putting your family first. Maybe you can finally go on that dream vacation you wanted to go on.
OMG !!! ! 😳 cousin I’m so Happy for youuu lol CONGRATULATIONS 🥰❤️❤️❤️
An awesome win…I’m positive you deserve it , can tell by your smile…and eyes…enjoy it…have some wonderful days ahead of you now 👍🏻😊
Congratulations 😃
God Bless you and your family.
What an amazing blessing.