It is seemingly pretty rare that someone walks away from their birthday $2 million richer, however, that was certainly the case for a Victoria resident on January 9.
Jerry Dyck, currently living on Vancouver Island, decided to treat himself to a lottery ticket on his birthday and managed to match all six numbers from the January 9, 2021 BC/49 draw to win the game’s top prize.
That is not a bad gift to oneself.
Dyck, a retired electrician, said he was running errands in Duncan when he purchased the ticket at W.S. Supermarket.
According to BCLC, he was at home with his daughter and son-in-law enjoying eggs benedict for breakfast when he decided to check it on the organization’s app.
“I could not believe it,” Dyck said. “I thought someone was playing a prank on me.”
After confirming the numbers and realizing his reality, the only fitting way to celebrate seemed to be a celebratory dance in the living room.
“My son-in-law was putting my grandkid down for a nap, so we were trying to jump up and down and celebrate as quietly as possible,” Dyck recalled of the morning after his birthday.
Dyck says he will be gifting some of his winnings to his family, however he also has plans to purchase a new RV to drive across Canada, once it’s safe to travel again. He tells BCLC that it’s a trip he’s “long dreamed of taking.”
According to BCLC, in 2020, British Columbians received more than $17 million in BC/49 prizes.
For Dyck, it is not a bad way to start 2021.
I can only hope more of my future birthdays incorporate winning millions of dollars.
Graham Cox
