François Masse of Hawkesbury can hardly believe that an ordinary grocery run – and a simple Free Play ticket – has made him Ontario’s newest multi‑millionaire! Masse won the $55 million LOTTO MAX jackpot in the January 9, 2026, draw.
Masse, a retiree who spent his career in education, was leaving the grocery store when he remembered he had a Free Play ticket to redeem. “I added ENCORE for $1, put the ticket in my wallet, and went on about my day,” he recalled while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his major windfall.
“A few days later, I remembered I had three tickets to check, so I scanned them using the OLG app. The first ticket earned me a Free Play, the second ticket won me $40, and the last one was the big one! I saw the ‘Big Winner’ message on the screen and went numb with disbelief – it was like the world stopped for a minute!”
Masse said the morning he discovered his jackpot win felt like a complete haze. “It was an out-of-body experience. I kept telling myself it couldn’t be true. I set the ticket down on the counter and paced around the house for five minutes, trembling and wondering if it was real. Then I checked the ticket again and saw the same ‘Big Winner’ message.”
After calling OLG for information about the prize claim process, Masse paused – he still couldn’t believe it. “I just looked out my window and thought about what this meant for me and my family – my kids, my mom, and my brothers. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It took about three hours to process the news before I called my family to tell them. Hearing the words ‘I won $55 million’ come out of my mouth felt even more unreal!”
Still, it took some serious convincing before Masse’s family truly believed he had won big. “We like to joke a lot, and they didn’t believe me at all at first,” he laughed. “We all know we’ll commit to a joke and pull each other’s legs, so they thought I was just really committed to my prank! Even my mom didn’t believe me!”
Masse knew he needed to tell his children about the win in person, so he invited them over and made up a story about having a late Christmas present for them. “I told them I had a gift on back order for them, and I bought them each an espresso machine as a ruse.”
Once they were all together, Masse asked his children to scan the winning ticket for themselves using the OLG app, and everyone was in shock! “There were a lot of happy tears,” he smiled. “It was a wonderful, incredible moment to share as a family. I was filled with joy.”
Plans for Masse’s windfall are already taking shape, and dream vacations he once thought were out of reach are suddenly within sight. “The first thing I want to do is arrange a family trip to celebrate this win, then I’ll plan some bucket-list travel. I’ve always dreamed of travelling to Formula 1 races all over the world. Maybe I’ll tour some NFL stadiums and catch some football, take some golf trips, and enjoy some mother-son adventures. We have lots of opportunities to make memories together,” he beamed. “There may also be a new home and car in my future! I’ve also always loved horses. I never actually rode any, but I bought a stable. So, when people ask if I’m into horses – well, I guess I am now!”
Above all, Masse also wants to ensure his family is well taken care of. “Legacy is important to me. I want to make sure I have the right advisors to guide me before making any big decisions. This win isn’t just for me – it’s for my family and the legacy we’ll leave behind,” he concluded.
The winning LOTTO MAX ticket was purchased at Asselin’s Your Independent Grocer on Cameron Street in Hawkesbury.
