Astar Henry had her kids double-check the numbers on her lottery ticket after realizing she just earned a $500,000 payday.
In a spur-of-the-moment decision, while out grabbing dinner for her family, she ended up purchasing one of two $1-million MaxMillion tickets out of Coquitlam from Lotto Max's record-breaking $70-million draw on June 22.
The local resident split the seven-figure cheque with another ticket bought in Victoria after they both picked the same numbers:
- 1, 4, 10, 17, 20, 30 and 48
"I checked it on my phone because I heard that someone in Coquitlam had won," Henry explained in a release from the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
"When I saw the $500,000 number, I was in shock, thinking ‘Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?’ so I had my kids come and check with me."
When Henry scanned her ticket, she said she went into shock and excitement knowing that this was going to change her life.
She added she plans to start an education fund for her family with her earnings.
"When the jackpot is big, I like to buy a ticket,” Henry said.
“On this evening I was out buying dinner and grabbed one on impulse.... It’s unbelievable, and incredibly amazing. I still have trouble believing it’s real."
Three weeks ago, BCLC unveiled the winners of the other MaxMillion ticket bought in Coquitlam.
Eleven co-workers teamed up for the June 22 draw and also won $500,000 after matching their numbers with another ticket marked "WC," which stands for western Canada and means it was purchased in either Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba.
The numbers were as follows:
- 9, 13, 27, 34, 37, 48 and 50
There were 46 MaxMillion winners from that record jackpot, along with two tickets — one bought in Kamloops — that split the $70-million grand prize.
BCLC says more than $115 million has been won by Lotto Max players across the province in 2021 thus far.
