Merel Chiasson of Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick, discovered a Lotto 6/49 ticket worth a staggering $64 million on his bedroom dresser, a fortune that lay unnoticed for nearly a year. Chiasson’s claim on the prize, the largest ever in Atlantic Canada, came just in the nick of time, merely 19 days before the ticket was due to expire, a full year after the draw date of April 15, 2023.
Unbeknownst to Chiasson, his casual habit of letting lottery tickets accumulate before checking them en masse almost cost him dearly. “I’ve always done it like that and I never thought I would win big, so I leave the tickets there and didn’t worry too much about it,” he shared, hinting at a possibility that still more unclaimed winnings might be lurking in his collection.
The moment of realization was as bewildering as it was thrilling. At first glance, Chiasson wasn’t sure if the prize was $64,000 or $64 million due to the amount of zeros. It took the confirmation from his partner, upon showing her the validation slip, to convince him of the reality: he was the long-sought-after $64-million jackpot winner. Even then, Chiasson remained unable to believe it until official confirmation was received from the Atlantic Lottery headquarters in Moncton, N.B.
Chiasson, who has spent 40 years as a crab fisherman before transitioning to work at a local fish plant, sees the windfall as an opportunity to retire comfortably and support his family. Despite the life-changing sum, he insists, “I don’t want anything big. It’s not going to change me, I’m still the same person.”
A regular participant in lottery games including Lotto Max and Set for Life, Chiasson’s commitment to the game remains unshaken, even purchasing more tickets after claiming his jackpot. His winning ticket was bought at Depanneur Pokemouche in Pokemouche, N.B., which is set to receive a one percent seller’s prize.
Chiasson said the Gold Ball Jackpot win will allow him to retire from the fish plant. More than anything, he said he’s looking forward to using the prize to help out his family.