Order of Canada Recipient Wins $25M Lotto Max Jackpot, Plans to Give Back

For the first time in Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) history, an Order of Canada recipient has won a major jackpot. Toronto resident Charles “Charlie” Coffey, an 81-year-old banking industry veteran and longtime advocate for Indigenous rights and women’s empowerment, took home the $25-million Lotto Max prize from the January 31 draw.

Coffey was at a North York gas station refueling his car when he decided to check his tickets while grabbing a chocolate bar. Initially, without his glasses, he thought he had won $25,000. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s interesting,’” he recalled. Upon closer inspection with his glasses, he realized it was actually a staggering $25 million.

After rushing home to verify the winnings with family, Coffey joked that someone suggested checking his pulse to make sure he was seeing correctly. A dedicated philanthropist, Coffey has been recognized for his support of First Nations communities, receiving the title of Honorary Chief from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 1997. He also earned the Canadian Women’s International Business Initiative Award from the Canadian Embassy in the United States.

Rather than splurging, Coffey plans to invest the money and use the earnings to fund grassroots organizations that align with his lifelong advocacy efforts. “Diversity, inclusion, and equity may be on the outs, but it’s a core strength of who we are as Canadians,” he said.

Coffey purchased the winning ticket at a Shell gas station on Yonge Street. Meanwhile, the next Lotto Max draw on Friday boasts an estimated $55 million jackpot.