Stacey Boyce of Whitecourt, Alta., is the winner of a massive $36 million prize as part of the Oct. 15, 2025 Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw. It’s the kind of life-changing amount that would prompt most Canadians to quit their jobs on the spot — but Boyce isn’t going anywhere. The now-millionaire says he has no plans to stop working. In fact, he’s most excited about putting the winnings right back into the logging company he’s been building for years.

“It’ll definitely speed up the plans I have for my business,” he said while picking up his prize with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. “It’s life-changing — and hopefully for the better.”

But the business isn’t the only thing on his mind. Moments after learning the news, Boyce said his daughter put in her own request: a pony.

“I want to make sure my daughter has a comfortable life,” he said. “We’ll see about the pony.”

Boyce was born and raised in Calgary, but now operates a logging company near Hinton, Alta., where long days and cold winters mean he’s constantly running into town to keep his camp stocked and warm.

“I’m there almost every day to get propane,” said Boyce. “I usually buy my lottery tickets once a week [while I’m there].”

On one of those routine trips, Boyce stopped at a 7-Eleven to pick up new propane tanks and scanned his Lotto 6/49 ticket.

“I’d heard [the Lotto 6/49 winner] was someone in Alberta,” he said.

Moments later, he was staring at the screen in disbelief.

“I said, ‘Holy cow!’ I actually walked out of the store and had to come back because I’d forgotten my propane bottles!”

Still dazed, he returned to his job site with both the propane and the winning ticket in hand.

“I was in disbelief!” he said, “I got back to camp and then matched the numbers online on the WCLC website!”

Boyce purchased his winning $36-million ticket from Valley Mart at 106 Market Street in Hinton. He won by matching the Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball selection: 30367074-01.

After confirming the win, the first person he told was his cousin.

“It’s all kind of a blur to be honest,” he continued. “The first person I told was my cousin — she had a lot of advice for me.”

With a prize of this size, Boyce says he’s taking his time before making any big decisions.

“I’d really like to do some good with it,” he said. “It’s a lot to wrap your head around so I’m talking to people I trust about it.”

Lotto 6/49 offers players the chance to win two multi-million-dollar jackpots on every $3 play. The Classic Draw offers a fixed $5-million jackpot every Wednesday and Saturday. The Gold Ball Draw, introduced in September 2022, guarantees a winner every time. It starts at $10 million and includes 30 balls: 29 white (each worth $1 million) and one gold, representing the growing jackpot. The Gold Ball jackpot increases by $2 million each time a white ball is drawn until it reaches $68 million with no white balls remaining — at which point the Gold Ball is guaranteed.

With the ticket cashed and shock settling in, Boyce says he’ll be right back at the job site where the win first found him.

Tools to stop gambling

If you’re looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.