‘Overwhelming’: Sisters $5M richer after lucky lotto ticket purchased in Sidney 

Shock quickly turned to laughter for two sisters when first discussing their big $5-million win off a 6/49 ticket purchased in Sidney on Vancouver Island.

“Overwhelming, surreal and fantastic!” said Gwen Leeder, describing the win after her sister, Heather Andrews, bought their lucky ticket for the Oct. 21 draw at the Pharmasave on Seventh Street.

Andrews lives in Sidney and told the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) she was at home watching TV when she decided to check the ticket. She says she looked at it and the winning numbers online a couple of times before sending her sister a picture via text.

Leeder lives in Stittsville, Ont., and was already asleep when Andrews sent the text, so the B.C. resident had to wait several hours before calling to share the news.

“We started laughing,” said Andrews, remembering the phone call.

Leeder, meanwhile, was most excited to hand in her resignation letter to her employer, and now the sisters plan to explore Canada’s east coast together using the winnings. They’d also like to help family and close friends.

The pair collected the jackpot on Nov. 6 at the BCLC’s Vancouver office, according to the Crown corporation in a release Wednesday.

It says Andrews and Leeder are now among the B.C. lottery players who have redeemed more than $100 in winnings from Lotto 6/49 so far this year.

READ ALSO: Community abuzz over $55M-winning Lotto Max ticket bought in North Saanich

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