Canadian to use $1 million lottery jackpot for wife's birthday dinner

A Canadian lottery player is about to set sail on some exciting adventures after hitting a big jackpot.

Kenneth Birch of Lone Butte, B.C., was at the general store of the same name when he took the opportunity to check several of his lottery tickets.

One scored him a $1 million jackpot from the Lotto 6/49 draw held on May 17, 2025.

“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that I won,” Birch said of the moment he learned he won. “I scanned it first and then had them scan it to tell me if it was right or not.”

Birch bought and validated his winning ticket at the Lone Butte General Store on Highway 24, where he also bought his winning ticket.

The first person he told was his wife, who was left in disbelief at first.

“She told me to bring the ticket to show her and once I did, she believed me and was really happy for me,” said the South Central B.C. resident.

Birch plans to use part of his windfall to treat his wife to an extravagant birthday dinner.

“It’s her birthday, and I’ll order anything and everything we want.”

A Caribbean cruise and a new Ford Truck are also in the cards, but Birch is still taking time to process winning $1 million in the lottery.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet!”

All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, you can find resources here.