Former Calgarians claim $40-million lotto prize
John Kinzel’s new favourite number is four, but it was a 20 that he was concerned about at a news conference announcing he and his wife won more than $40 million.
“I sure like the fact they didn’t forget this,” said John,juicy couturelaughing and pointing to the 20 on the massive Saskatchewan Lotteries cheque he was holding.
In addition to the $40 million won in the Lotto Max, the Kinzels won $20 on a Quick Pick selection. John purchased the ticket in Lloydminster on Aug. 19, the day of the draw, with the numbers 4, 14, 24, 41, 43, 46, 49.
“They just popped into my head and I just scratched them. I don’t know why I picked them, but it was a four-tunate day,” he said with a laugh, “because all the numbers have fours in them. I’ve got two sets of numbers that I pick that’s a combination of our birthdays, but for this time, I just picked four sets of numbers and I just picked them. I don’t know why.”
The Kinzels are recent residents of Saskatchewan. They moved to Paradise Hill, about 60 kilometres northeast of Lloydminster, from Calgary about three years ago to get out of the big city rat race. At the time, they purchased a small house, perfect for their future retirement.
That all changed during the past week. Now, they are planning to build something bigger. They have three sons, who are married, and five grandchildren.
And retirement came suddenly. On Aug. 20, the day he learned of his $40-million windfall, John informed his boss at an autobody shop in Lloydminster that he was done.
“My boss said, ‘You’re kidding.’ I said, ‘No.’ He didn’t want me to retire.”
The Kinzels are looking forward to travelling “everywhere,” said John. “I’ve never been outside of Canada.”
The Kinzels’ $40 million is the largest lottery prize ever claimed in Saskatchewan.
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