A northern B.C. resident has a million reasons to smile.
Avid car collector and Telegraph Creek resident Dwayne Etzerza is now $1 million richer after winning the Lotto 6/49 Guaranteed Prize Draw on Nov. 25.
He purchased his winning ticket in Smithers at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Main Street, where he selected his winning numbers with the Quick Pick.
Etzeza says he didn't know he'd won until he saw a friend on Facebook had posted that someone had won $1 million in Smithers.
He immediately checked his ticket on the BCLC Lotto App, which confirmed he was indeed the winner.
“I couldn't believe it! I think I was still half asleep and had to ask my partner what she saw on the screen to confirm the win," Etzerza explained in a news release.
He shared the news right away with his mom, who he'd teased that he would win.
"So when she realized I wasn't joking she was happy for me," Etzerza said.
He plans to start a new businesses and start a new car collection since he just had sold his last one.
“It's an amazing feeling and overwhelming at the same time,” he said. “It's great to be a winner.”
