A group of coworkers from Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, and Scarborough are now multi-millionaires after winning a life-changing $60-million Lotto Max jackpot. Their win, announced by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), is not only a remarkable story of luck but also one rooted in tradition, timing, and teamwork.
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A GTA Group Win Like No Other
Coworkers Turn Colleagues into Lottery Legends
The five winners — Trang Pham and Suong Tran of Mississauga, Phong Phan of Brampton, Thuc Le of Toronto, and Zou Hsieh of Scarborough — work together and regularly pool their money to buy lottery tickets. This time, their timing aligned with the Lunar New Year, a season known for new beginnings and prosperity.
A Simple Office Errand Becomes a Fortune
Trang Pham, one of the group’s members, recalled how the winning ticket came to be. “Almost a week before the New Year, I was buying creamer for the office and said, ‘OK, let’s grab our ticket here,’” she shared in an OLG interview. “Who would’ve known. It came true the next morning.”
The group had purchased the ticket for the January 21 Lotto Max draw — and by the next day, their lives had changed forever.
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Celebrating with Cultural Tradition
The Red Envelope Surprise from OLG
To celebrate the group’s Lunar New Year-themed win, OLG embraced the occasion by presenting the winners with their cheques inside red envelopes — a traditional symbol of luck and fortune in many Asian cultures. “In some cultures, red envelopes can have large sums of money,” said Jim Warren, chairperson of the OLG board of directors.
Each member of the group received a cheque for $12 million.
Dreams, Homes, and New Horizons
From Travel to Mortgage Freedom
Following the win, the group members shared a few glimpses into their plans. Some winners are dreaming of global travel adventures, while others are focused on achieving financial security by paying off their homes.
One member, Phong Phan, described the surreal feeling of learning they had won: “At that moment, it’s just crazy. You believe it, then you don’t believe it.”
Trang Pham added a heartfelt message during the cheque presentation: “Whatever your dreams, your plans, your goals — whatever you do, be happy.”
A $60-Million Reminder That Dreams Can Come True
Community, Culture, and a Bit of Luck
This extraordinary story highlights not only the luck involved in winning the lottery but also the power of community and shared dreams. What began as a casual office lottery pool ended in a monumental life shift for five coworkers, all connected by friendship, heritage, and hope.
Whether it’s paying off debt, exploring the world, or simply enjoying more time with loved ones, the $60 million win will open new chapters for each of the group members.
And for the rest of us? It’s a reminder that fortune can strike at any time — sometimes even on an ordinary trip for coffee creamer.