Retired $20 million lottery winner got more than he expected from WLCL Lottery
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The Western Canada Lottery Corporation has been good to winner Ernie Anuik.
Lotto Max $20 million jackpot winner and retired public servant Anuik explained how the lottery has also helped his family over the years.
“Sasquatch lotteries did support our kids at home when they were in various sports such as swimming and kayaking,” he said.
The Lotto Max $20 million draw made on February 15. VIDEO: Lotto BC
And now the massive Feb 15 multi-million dollar win has given him the chance of a lifetime.
Ernie commented on the timing, “i think if it would have happened 20 years ago or whatever, it would have been a totally different story.”
Ernie Anuik purchasing the winning ticket from the Shoppers Drug Mart at 277 Broadway St. in Yorkton.
He discovered his win on a regular trip to the Shoppers Drug Mart to check his tickets with his son, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation reported in a press release.
"I knew someone from Saskatchewan had won and I knew it wasn't in Regina or Saskatoon," Anuik stated.
"But that didn't really influence me or give me any presumption that I had won. I always said everyone has an equal chance of winning."
The winning numbers from the Lotto Max $20 million draw made on February 15. PHOTO: Lotto BC
When he scanned his ticket, he discovered he had the winning numbers — 19, 26, 28, 36, 40, 42 and 48.
"I just saw lots of zeros," Anuik said. "There were a couple of people behind us and I don't think they realized what was happening."
“it was kind of a surreal moment because of the number of zeros, but I probably was the calmest I've ever been in my whole life,” he added.
Ernie Anuik talks on his phone to media at the Lotto Max check presentation while his son looks on. PHOTO: CTV News
Anuik used the store's ticket checker three times before ‘hollering’ for his son to come over so they could check the ticket together.
They scanned the ticket more times before getting the store clerk to check the win details.
“After i scanned it about three times I got my son to come over and and he scanned it, “ Ernie said in an interview. “ I guess we should validate it. The rest as they say is history.”
When he was asked about his plans, Anuik said, "There's no such thing as a sure thing and nothing lasts forever. If you can accept those two things you can get through a lot of stuff in life."
“I was a public servant for a large number of years, and then post-retirement I actually worked at my dream job,” explained Ernie.
“I worked at a in the sporting goods section of home hardware in Yorkton,” Ernie said, “and for about five years before I was totally retired I bought lots of tickets.”
