Grandma wins $50M

UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Kelowna's June Bergh is $50 million richer after winning the Lotto Max jackpot.

When the grandmother bought her lottery ticket she has simply hoped she would walk away with one of the Maxmillion prizes of one million – but she ended up claiming the big jackpot.

“I saw it on the machine and everyone had said I had won, but it was hard to believe I really did.”

She spoke to Castanet shortly after claiming her cheque in Kamloops and was still overwhelmed by the whole experience – calling it truly “unbelievable.”

“I just can't believe it; it is just too much,” says Bergh, who admits she didn't even think it was real.

“I didn’t believe it until I arrived at Kamloops and the player services assistant congratulated me for winning $50 million.

While her winning ticket was purchased at Safeway in Kelowna on Highway 97 North, Bergh checked her ticket and found out she had won at the Kelowna Superstore.

The same ticket counter that informed Kelowna's Robert Goertzen that he had won $21.9 million on the February 20 Lotto 6/49 draw.

She tells Castanet she had a feeling when she went into Superstore on Saturday that she had won something.

“I heard first thing in the morning that someone in Kelowna had won,” says Bergh. “I sort of had a feeling I had won a smaller prize, like maybe $1 million, but I never, ever dreamt or thought it would be the big one.”

She says she sent her husband Gus off to get groceries when she checked her ticket for the first time, not believing the seven-digit number on the screen.

“I thought it said $50,000 and I just put it in my pocket and finished shopping,” explains Bergh. “I found Gus and then asked him to check it, and he thought it might be more than $50,000. Then we took it to the man at the lotto booth and he said it was $50 million.”

The Berghs then called their children to share the news.

“They couldn't believe it either,” says Bergh. “They thought we were joking.”

Bergh laughs as she says she can hardly even contemplate what $50 million means.

She is looking forward to sharing her winnings with her two children and seven grandchildren. She says they hope to help with post-secondary expenses and everything their family needs.

“This win is about them, not about us,” beams Bergh. “It gives me great pleasure in helping others.”

Bergh says in addition to sharing the winnings with her family, she will plan a cruise with her husband of 54 years.

She jokes that the tip to a long-lasting marriage is to do what you want.

“Be independent and do what you want in life,” says Bergh.

She says she has just recently starting playing the lottery in her later years as she could not afford the tickets when she was young.  

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ORIGINAL: 6 a.m.

The Okanagan's $50-million lotto winner is stepping forward to take her prize.

The BC Lotto Corporation revealed this morning that Kelowna resident June Bergh won the jackpot April 8.

This marks the second big lottery win in Kelowna in 2016. Kelowna resident, Robert Goertzen won $21.9 million on the February 20 Lotto 6/49 draw.

She is scheduled to attend a news conference today.