A Port Alberni couple is $5 million richer after winning big in last weeksa国际传媒檚 Lotto 6/49 draw.

Harold Thomas and his wife Madelaine, currently located in Port Alberni, had the winning ticket, which matched all six numbers from across Canada for the $5 million jackpot.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 exciting to numbness,sa国际传媒� Harold said in an interview over the phone from the BC Lottery Corporation in Vancouver on Wednesday, Feb. 13. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 something you dream about and think it will never happen. But anybody can win.sa国际传媒�

The winning ticket was purchased at A-1 Convenience Store on Redford Street. Both Harold and Madelaine regularly purchase lottery tickets every week, and after hearing last weeksa国际传媒檚 news that a winning ticket was purchased in Port Alberni, Harold quickly took his ticket to be checked.

sa国际传媒淭he guy looked at me and said, sa国际传媒楴o, it ainsa国际传媒檛 you,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� Harold said.

However, it wasnsa国际传媒檛 until Tuesday night that Madelaine had her ticket checked. After the machine sa国际传媒渟tarted going crazy,sa国际传媒� according to Harold, they raced to the BC Lottery Corporation the next morning to have it verified.

Harold was born and raised in Port Alberni. He met Madelaine in Victoria, and the couple moved back to Port Alberni to raise their children. They have two sons, as well as sa国际传媒渢hree and a halfsa国际传媒� grandchildren (with one due in August).

Harold and Madelaine are planning to stay in their Port Alberni home where they raised their children, rather than purchasing a new house.

sa国际传媒淲e like Port Alberni,sa国际传媒� said Harold.

Their plan for the money is to put most of it aside for their children and grandchildren. sa国际传媒淢aybe some renovations,sa国际传媒� added Harold. sa国际传媒淎nd a new car.sa国际传媒�

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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