They're the best of friends and now together they will share the joy of striking it rich.
Yorkton's Ron Chan and Don Reed buy lottery tickets together each week, alternating between games. But their choice of the WESTERN 649 for the January 28th draw turned into a million-dollar deal for the pair.
Although the LOTTO MAX™ had a Jackpot of $50 Million plus MAXMILLIONS™ that week, the friends decided on a 7-Number WESTERN 649 Combo lottery ticket instead.
The two explain that they don't really have a method in choosing the game they play each week - they just get together, decide on a game and buy their ticket.
Ron and Don purchased their ticket from Ron's place of business - Chan's Central Grocery, located on Broadway Street.
Ron says, "The evening of the draw, I had my son read me the winning numbers off of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) website while I checked them against our ticket. I said, "I think we got six numbers!" I questioned my son, asking if he was sure he read them correctly, and he said yes! Then I went on the computer to check and there was only one winner, in Saskatchewan. I had my son call Don as I was too excited - to put it mildly," Ron chuckles.
"Ron's son phoned at 10:51 p.m. and said that his Dad and I had won $1 Million. I said, "Aww, come on," and hung up. I really didn't believe him. About 10 minutes later I called him back," adds Don.
The ticket matched all six numbers to win $1 Million. As the ticket was a Combination Play ticket, it won an additional $3,000 in subsidiary prizes, bringing the friends' total winnings to $1,003,000.
Ron says this win will allow him to retire a little sooner than he thought, and enjoy a vacation. Don, on the other hand, says he hasn't thought too far ahead yet but knows the money will help with some priority expenses.
