Home and camper on the wish list for Victoria, B.C., couple after $35M lotto win

VANCOUVER – A couple from Victoria, B.C., are $35 million richer after claiming the whopping sum at a B.C. Lottery Corp. celebration in Vancouver.

Lahsen Rezrazi and Debbie Ramsay say they plan on buying a home and a camper van with the prize money after splitting the $70 million jackpot with another winner in Ontario for the June 6 draw.

Rezrazi says he stopped at a grocery store for milk and cream on his way to pick up Ramsay from work where he checked his lottery tickets.

He says he initially won a modest $10 dollar prize and a free play before scanning the jackpot-winning ticket, and then called his wife with the news.

Ramsay says she could hardly contain a scream, and even went back to the store to scan the ticket for herself, also double-checking it with the lottery corporation’s mobile app.

The couple says they are going on an “epic” cross-Canada road trip with plans to surprise family members along the way with cash gifts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2023.