As of the June 5, 2026 Lotto Max draw, Lacombe, Alberta has a new multimillionaire: Don Matheson, who matched all seven numbers to claim a $15 million jackpot. The win was reported in late June by CTV News Edmonton and the Edmonton Journal, and what stands out isn't the size of the cheque — it's what Matheson says he wants to do with it. His first thought, by his own account, was helping the people around him.

The timing made it sweeter. Matheson bought the ticket just before his birthday, and only started playing Lotto Max recently, which turned an ordinary purchase at a Lacombe convenience store into, in his words, "one heck of a birthday surprise."

A $15 million ticket from one Friday draw

Here are the confirmed details, all from the June 5, 2026 draw. Matheson's ticket matched the seven main numbers drawn that night: 11, 16, 27, 34, 40, 47, and 49. Matching all seven is what takes the main Lotto Max jackpot, and his single line was the one that did it for $15 million.

The 30-second version

  • Winner: Don Matheson, of Lacombe, Alberta
  • Prize: $15 million Lotto Max jackpot
  • Draw: Friday, June 5, 2026 (as reported by CTV News and the Edmonton Journal)
  • Numbers matched: 11, 16, 27, 34, 40, 47, 49
  • His plan: help family and community first

A couple of things are worth separating out here. The fact is the win and the amount, as reported by CTV News and the Edmonton Journal. Matheson's own words — that he'd just started playing, and that the money is for other people — are his account, reported by the Edmonton Journal and other outlets, not our characterization. We're passing them along as he told them.

The man with the pink beard, in his own words

If there's a detail that makes this one memorable beyond the dollar figure, it's the person. As the Edmonton Journal reported, Matheson's reaction wasn't about himself.

"Gee whiz" was his reaction, he told reporters — his first thought, by his account, was that he could finally help the people around him. — Don Matheson, as reported by CTV News and the Edmonton Journal (June 2026)

He told reporters he won't change, but that he'll make sure his family members' mortgages are paid, plans to invest a portion, and wants to keep giving time to causes that matter to him. Matheson is also known locally for his pink beard — a personal stand against bullying he took up after a Pink Shirt Day at a school. That part isn't lottery news; it's just the kind of detail that explains why "help my community" was the first thing out of his mouth.

What a win like this actually says about the odds

It's an easy story to read and think, "maybe next time it's me." So here's the honest framing, because that's the part most coverage skips.

Lotto Max asks you to match 7 numbers drawn from 1 to 52, plus a bonus. A standard $6 play gives you four selections. The odds of any single $6 play winning the main jackpot are about 1 in 33,446,140 — and for one specific seven-number selection, roughly 1 in 133,784,560. Those are the real published figures, not rounded into something rosier.

🎯 The honest number Main Lotto Max jackpot odds: about 1 in 33.4 million per $6 play. Every draw is independent — past results, "due" numbers, and lucky streaks don't shift the next draw at all.

That last point is the one that matters. Each Lotto Max draw is random and stands on its own. Matheson having started playing recently isn't a pattern or a strategy you can copy; it's what a genuinely long-shot outcome looks like when it lands on one person. Buying more lines buys more entries at proportional cost — nothing more, and never a reason to spend beyond what you'd set aside for fun.

Beyond the main jackpot, Lotto Max draws also carry MAXPLUS (additional $100,000 prizes added to every draw) and, once the jackpot grows large, separate MAXMILLIONS $1 million draws. Those are won on the same all-seven match, so each line's odds match the main draw's — they don't make the headline number easier to reach.

A few quick questions about this win

Q. Where was the winning ticket bought?

A. In Lacombe, Alberta, per the June 5, 2026 draw as reported by CTV News and the Edmonton Journal. Lotto Max is run nationally, but in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the three territories it's administered by WCLC.

Q. Will Matheson pay tax on the $15 million?

A. As general information, standard Canadian lottery winnings are not taxed as income. That's the general rule, not personal advice — anyone in that situation should confirm the specifics with the Canada Revenue Agency or a qualified professional, especially once winnings are invested.

Q. Can I check whether I matched the same June 5 numbers?

A. Yes. Compare your ticket against the official June 5, 2026 result — 11, 16, 27, 34, 40, 47, 49 — on the official WCLC results page or your provincial lottery site, and check the draw date on your ticket before anything else.

Play for fun, within a budget you've set in advance. Lotto Max and games like it are entertainment, not a way to make money. If gambling stops feeling fun, free and confidential help is available across Canada — ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600, and provincial helplines exist as well.

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