Okanagan posted Sep 12, 2023 @ 12:55pm by Josh Duncan

Okanagan couple cashes $1M lotto win after buying ticket on a whim

Sometimes, the best decisions are the ones made on a whim.

That was certainly the case for Gregory and Patricia Thomason, who made a split-second decision to buy a Lotto 6/49 ticket for the Sept. 6 draw while leaving Walmart in Salmon Arm.

“I saw the ticket booth and thought, ‘Why not?’” recalled Gregory of his decision.

<who>Photo Credit: BCLC</who>Gregory and Patricia Thomason

He learned of their life-changing win when at Sutherlands Bakery & Deli in Enderby, where Gregory used the self-scanner to check their ticket.

“When I told Patty, she thought it was a joke,” he explained.

The Thomasons are excited to use some of their winnings to help out their family, but also have their eyes set on some travel plans.

“We have said, ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and make some goals’ — we want to think about how to use this,” said Gregory. “My nephew lives in England so maybe we’ll go visit him!”

Patricia used the word “surreal” to sum up the feeling of becoming an overnight millionaire.

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