Armstrong mom gets sweet $1-million lottery win

Christyna Whieldon picked up a Lotto 6/49 ticket while treating her kids to some candy at the Armstrong Deep Creek General Store, and got herself a $1 million prize from the Oct. 17 Guaranteed Prize Draw.

“I am still in shock,” Whieldon said in a B.C. Lottery Corportation press release. “I honestly cannot believe I won.”

Whieldon said she promised her kids the bonbons as she needed to drag them along while she did some errands; she selected her numbers with Quick Pick that day and hasn’t forgotten them since.

“I was in my kitchen,” she said.  “I had Googled the winning numbers — I probably checked the number about 500 times. I now have that Guaranteed (Prize Draw) number memorized.”

The Armstrong resident of eight years immediately called her husband and mother, who were both in as much shock as she was.

“My mom screamed and said she has never known a lottery winner before,” she said. “My husband just kept saying, ‘No way! There is no way!’”

Whieldon said she plans to pay off her mortgage and support more local businesses with her unexpected prize.

“I live and work in an amazing community,” she said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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