Fortunate Cape bretoner guy wins a big jackpot recently in a lottery game

Marie McCarthy from New Waterford, N.S., is the long-anticipated winner of a $31-million Lotto Max jackpot thanks to a lucky ticket given to her as a birthday gift by her grandson, Jeff.

Cape Breton residents have been abuzz since it was announced that the winning ticket was sold in New Waterford on Jan. 31, McCarthy's birthday.

McCarthy was awarded the largest lottery prize ever in Nova Scotia and in the Maritimes. "It doesn't seem real," McCarthy said.

"I never really thought about a bucket list or anything before because I never figured I'd have the money to do anything on it."

McCarthy said she was in total disbelief when they checked the numbers and reality only started to sink in once she called Atlantic Lottery to validate the ticket.