Yorkton man takes home $20 million in Lotto Max win

It’s something a lot of us might find ourselves daydreaming about: What would we do if we won the lottery?

For 72-year-old Ernie Anuik, a retiree from Yorkton who used to work as a public servant, it’s a reality.

“It was kind of a surreal moment because of the number of zeroes,” Anuik said Wednesday as he recounted the moment he found out he had won. “It was probably the calmest time in my whole life.

“I don’t think it has totally sunk in even yet.”

Anuik is the lucky winner of $20 million from the Feb. 15 Lotto Max draw. He purchased his winning ticket from a Shoppers Drug Mart in Yorkton.

Upon reading and confirming numbers, Anuik called four of his sons.

“I asked if they were sitting down, and then, of course, they thought I was just pulling their leg,” he said. “They thought I was trying to get a rise out of them.

“Over the years I have bought lots of tickets. But Sask. Lotteries did support our kids when they were in various sports such as swimming, kayaking — that kind of stuff.  I always looked at it as just giving back.”

When asked if he had plans for anything extravagant with his money such as buying a new truck or purchasing a new home, Anuik said he had other plans.

“I’m pretty happy with the truck I have right now,” he said as he chuckled. “It’s still getting me places.

“At this point, I have got the advice of a financial person. And before I make any decisions for spending any of it, I’m going to spend some time with him.”

Saskatchewan’s newest Lotto Max winner, Ernie Anuik (left), and his son Jason Anuik (right). (Logan Stein/980 CJME)

Because of his age, Anuik says he finds it hard to figure out what he could possibly do with his newfound wealth.

“If it would have happened 20 years ago, it would have been a totally different story,” he said. “I know myself well enough that I probably would have been a little more excited about it.”

There has been an abundance of lottery winners in Saskatchewan as of late.

Anuik is the fourth multimillion-dollar winner in the province since the start of 2021.

The vice-chair of Saskatchewan Lotteries, Michael Rogers, says ultimately it’s a game of chance.

“I can definitely see how the last number of weeks makes it look like Saskatchewan is on a run,” he said. “The odds are the same wherever you may be for every new draw.”

According to Saskatchewan Lotteries officials, Anuik’s odds to win the Lotto Max were one in 33 million.