Dennis Clark was away from his wife Rhonda on Mother’s Day, working in Fort McMurray, when he found out the 649 ticket he bought at a gas station there was the $2 million winning ticket.
The Hudson Bay man checked it and discovered the win on Sunday, May 14 – right after he called Rhonda to wish her a happy Mother’s Day.
“I checked the ticket with the WCLC Lottery Manager app on my phone. I just kept scanning it; I thought I was seeing things,” he said in a media release. “I called Rhonda right back and asked her to check the copy of our selection slip while I read off the winning numbers.”
“When I saw the numbers matching, I started shaking,” Rhonda said. “You never expect that you’re really going to win. I still haven’t wrapped my mind around it.”
The Clarks’ plans for their windfall so far are modest, but the couple said their $2 million prize will help change their lives in meaningful ways.
“After nine years on the road and working shift work, I’m going to be home more,” Dennis said. “I’ve missed a lot of basketball games and other activities. This win will help me to retire earlier and let us enjoy more time together as a family.”
“And you’ll be home to push the snow blower in the winter,” Rhonda said, laughing.
The Clarks said they also plan to pay off their vehicles, pay down their mortgage, and travel more.
The winning numbers of the Western 649 draw were 13, 21, 24, 38, 39 and 47.
