Two retirees from northern B.C. were in Kamloops today (Nov. 8) to pick up a cool $20 million.
Telkwa's Ken and Susan Salter were at BCLC headquarters for the big cheque presentation, following their Lotto Max win in the Oct. 29 draw.
The couple, who has been married for 29 years, matched all seven numbers (their own) to win the jackpot.
Ken went to check his ticket, which he purchased in his hometown, on Halloween, around 4 p.m.
"The screen went fully black. It came up with, 'Winner — $20 million,' Ken says of the moment he found out.
"I phoned (Susan) and told her, in a pretty quiet voice, that we had won $20 million. She said, 'Get out of here.'"
Ken normally doesn't buy Lotto Max on Tuesdays, but he had a winning ticket for $20 from the previous Friday draw.
"I thought, 'Well, should I or shouldn't I? What the heck, might as well reinvest $20," says Ken. "It was pretty surreal (when we found out we won)."
Susan, meanwhile, is currently recovering from knee surgery and says the winnings give her lots to look forward to. That includes building a new house — a rancher — on their current property in Telkwa, one that is all one level with no stairs.
They're not planning on leaving their village, they say, because "it's home."
The pair have seven children, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and say they'll help each one of them financially. Ken also plans to buy new vehicles and pay off the mortgages of three of his closest friends.
A trip to Europe is also on Susan's bucket list.
Ken adds, with a laugh, that Christmas should be "interesting."
