A retired Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) executive has struck gold, taking home the top prize in an Ontario lottery.
Charles Coffey, 81, who dedicated more than four decades of his life to Canada’s largest bank, initially thought he had won C$25,000. But after taking a closer look he realised he had miscalculated by three extra zeroes. His ticket was actually worth a whopping C$25 million (£17.4 million).
“That’s interesting!” was Coffey’s first reaction, according to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), quoted by Bloomberg.
A New Brunswick native, Coffey served as RBC’s executive vice president of government affairs and business development before retiring in 2006. Beyond banking, he made a name for himself as an advocate for marginalised communities, earning the prestigious Order of Canada in 2003 for his work. He has long championed corporate philanthropy and Indigenous education, even being named an honorary chief during his time in Winnipeg.
“This win gives me the opportunity to sustainably support the causes I have championed for decades,” Coffey said in a statement from OLG. “I believe in the premise of a hand-up versus a handout and want to support organisations that need a stronger voice.”
But before diving into philanthropy, Coffey has one immediate plan which is taking his family on a well-deserved holiday.