Retired Santa from Winnipeg wins life-changing $60M lotto jackpot

Christmas came early this year for Randy Glays, a retired Santa from Winnipeg who won a $60-million Lotto Max jackpot earlier this month.

Glays who worked year-round for more than 20 years dressing up as Santa Claus at events around the city says when he was first told he'd won,he thought he wasthe victim of adelayed April Fools' Dayjoke.

"It's going to change our life, and hopefully it can change other peoples lives,"Glays said Friday morning, during a Western Canada Lottery Corporation news conference announcingthe largestsingle-ticket win purchased at a retail outletin Manitoba's history.

Glays and his wife, Janice Glays, won the prize on the March 31 draw with a $6 quick-pick ticket purchased at a lottery outlet in a St. Anne's Road Superstore.

Winning a life-changing $60M lotto jackpot

1 year ago

Duration 1:25

A retired Winnipeg couple has won one of the largest lottery ticket prizes in Manitoba history. At first, they thought it was an April Fools joke. Now that they've confirmed the ticket real, they says the prize money will help them live out their best retirement.

But part of Randy's lotto routine has always been to waita couple of days after buying a ticket before checking it.

Thefirst ticket he and his wife checkedafter the March 31 draw was a $1 winner.

"The next one will say loser as always," Janice Glays recalled saying during Friday's news conference.

When they checked their second ticket, they discovered that wasn't the case this time.

She and Randy were standing in a Shoppers Drug Mart in northeast Winnipegwhen they discovered they'd won$60 million, Janice said.

Still in disbelief, the couple went to a cashier to verify their ticket, and later asked their son to check it again.

Winner 'embodies the spirit of Santa'

They're still processing the news, they said Friday.

The couple, who recently retired,have had a difficult year and were"living paycheque to paycheque" before the win, Janice said.

Allen Pitch, a friend of Randy's who employed him through his companyAmazing Entertainment,says he was"the No. 1Santa" in the city before retiring.

Randy's success as Santa can be credited to his character, Pitch told CBC at Friday's news conference.

"He really embodies the spirit of Santa," he said. "[He's] kind, jolly and loving."

This is the first year Randy was unable to play Santa due to health issues, Pitch said,but addedthe lotterywin makes up for missing out on something he loved doing.

The Glayses say they're aware the win has the capacity to change their lives, but say theywant to keep things as normal as possible.

"Thankfully you still can wear masks around so if we go out we can put a mask on and we won't seem any different from anyone else," Janice joked.

The couple have hired lawyers and financial advisors to help them navigate their new wealth, she said.

Headed to Vegas for a beer

For now, they plan to movefrom theirapartment intoa house and Janice said it will be a relief notto have to worry about thecost of groceries when shopping.

They also planto use their winnings togive back to the community, Janice said, including some of the organizations theyhave volunteered with in the past, such as the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Butsome things haven't changed Randy is still buying lotterytickets a couple of times a week. He considers the $60-million win a sign of good luck, he said.

The couple, who began dating when they were 16,will celebrate their 46th weddinganniversary this October. While they've sometimes marked their anniversary with a trip toGrand Forks, N.D.,they're excited to switch it up this year, they said.

For now, they're still deciding what else to do with the prize.

"You always dream about what you want to do. Randy wants to go to Vegas and have a beer," said Janice.

"That's the first thing, and then we'll take it from there."