Image: BCLC / Rhonda Malesku’ is all smiles after winning $35 million

By Dave Barry

Lotto Max

“I won $35 million dollars!” – Kamloops lottery winner claims her cheque

Jul 27, 2023 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — Rhonda Malesku’s smile will be on her face for quite some time. Malesku has good reason to smile. She is the Kamloops woman who won Tuesday’s $35 million Lotto Max Jackpot. She picked up her cheque today (July 27) at the BCLC office in Kamloops.

“I’ve always dreamed of being able to design my dream home and also set my family up so now I can do both,” said Malesku. She plans to build her own dream home along with homes for her son and daughter.

Malesku was born and raised in Kamloops. She purchased the ticket at Walmart while shopping for beach towels. She matched all seven numbers and split the $70-million jackpot with the holder of a ticket purchased in Alberta.

She checked her numbers Wednesday morning online and reacted like any new multi-millionaire would. “I let out a huge scream and kept saying, ‘I won $35 million dollars!” I opened up the back door and started screaming it outside to my husband Sam and we both started shaking!” I was shouting so loud with excitement that the neighbors came out of their houses because they thought something was wrong.”

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Before she had calmed down, she phoned her daughter. “I called my daughter and started screaming it all over again to her. She immediately dropped everything and came over. We couldn’t even get ready this morning because we were vibrating with excitement and had to help each other put on our makeup.”

Malesku also plans to purchase a travel trailer and a truck to tow it with and looks forward to driving to the East Coast with her loved ones.