'I didn't believe all the zeroes': $1-million Lotto Max jackpot shared among 26 Greater Hamilton, Toronto coworkers

A Lotto Max ticket purchased in Stoney Creek has netted a $1-million windfall to be shared among 26 recipients in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.

The group of 26 coworkers play the lottery together often, according to an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation news release.

"I checked our ticket using the OLG App and I didn't believe all the zeroes," Ernesto Diaz Herryman said in the OLG release. He was among the winners who attended the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim the prize.

"I called a meeting at work, and everyone was scared," Diaz Herryman added. They were wondering why I called them. When I shared the big news, they were so excited and told their families right away!"

Hiran Patel of Brampton, who also attended the prize centre, added in the release: "This is so unusual and so rare. I am so excited we beat the odds of winning!"

The group plans to celebrate the win together.

The lucky ticket, from the May 31, 2022 draw, was purchased at a Stoney Creek Husky gas station on King Street.

Members of the winning group include:

Ernesto Diaz Herryman of Hamilton, Christopher Cote of Mississauga, David Fox of Ancaster, Deepakkumar Prajapati of Mississauga, Fitzwilliam Ramsook of Milton, Gary Randall of Oakville, Gary St. Onge of Oakville, Gregory Hunter of Mississauga, Gregory May of Hamilton, Hanif Remani of Hamilton, Hiran Patel of Brampton, Jacob Sherritt of Brantford, James Madley of Ancaster, John Happy of Oakville, John Taylor of Coldwater, John-Paul McGrath of Hamilton, Kevin Soy of North York, Matthew Konstantinou of Mount Hope, Nikeshkumar Babaria of Mississauga, Richard Groulx of Burlington, Sana Rouhani of Brechin, Selwyn Ramjohn of Mississauga, Shayne Coutto of Hamilton, Stephen Yonev of Stoney Creek, Svyatoslav Shchupak of Binbrook, and Timothy Taylor of Hamilton.