Candace Swick Hnatuk and Murray Down celebrate life-changing calls
April 8, 2026
A single phone call changed one family’s life forever on March 26, bringing news that would make them Manitoba’s newest millionaires.
The call came from St. Boniface Hospital Foundation President and CEO Karen Fowler, informing Candace Swick Hnatuk that she was the grand prize winner of this year’s St. B Mega Million Choices Lottery, a win that awarded Swick Hnatuk and her husband a $1.25‑million, tax‑free cash payout.
“It didn’t sink in at all,” said Swick Hnatuk. “I couldn’t quite process what they were telling me.”
When she got the call, Swick Hnatuk was in the middle of a typical work day at home, where she runs rehabilitation and wellness programs for older adults.
She wasn’t expecting any news from the Foundation that day; in fact, she thought the draw had already come and gone.
“I figured somebody else must have won,” said Swick Hnatuk. “I even deleted all the lottery emails in my Inbox.”
But Fowler’s call was very real, and it quickly became a shared moment. Her husband, Marty Hnatuk, works at St. Boniface Hospital. When Swick Hnatuk mentioned him during the call, the Foundation team found him and brought him to our office so he could celebrate the moment with her. Watch the video of the winner’s reaction here.
Once the shock settled, Swick Hnatuk knew exactly what she wanted to do first: plan an African safari with her family. The trip is a bucket-list item she has talked about for years and can now finally make a reality.
Her connection to St. Boniface Hospital runs deep. The Hospital cared for her father, father‑in‑law, and brother‑in‑law over the years, creating moments she’ll never forget. One especially meaningful memory is from the day her father, a longtime schoolteacher, arrived at St. B and was greeted by a doctor who recognized him as the teacher who inspired his career.
“We’ve always been grateful for the care our family has received at St. B,” said Swick Hnatuk.
A big win at the perfect time
Meanwhile, one more lucky supporter was about to hear unforgettable news of his own.
After 15 years as a wheelchair-accessible bus driver, Murray Down discovered he was the winner of the St. B Mega Million Choices Lottery 50/50 PLUS draw. His $698,200 prize means Down is finally ready to enjoy a well‑earned retirement, he says.
Down has been buying tickets since 2002, never missing a draw, but nothing prepared him for the moment he received the call that he’d won.
“News travels fast,” Down laughed. “After an hour, I already had friends from Arizona and England calling to congratulate me.”
For someone who has spent his career helping others get where they needed to go, it feels fitting that his first big treat is a new set of wheels of his own.
“My splurge will be a new vehicle,” Down said. “I put a deposit down on one weeks ago and told them I’d come for it when I got the money, and now, here we are.”
With his retirement on the horizon, Down’s still taking it all in and looking forward to celebrating with family and enjoying the freedom this win brings.
Thank you to Candace Swick Hnatuk, Murray Down, and everyone who bought tickets for this year’s St. B Mega Million Choices Lottey.