Retirement came early

Photo: BCLC Media Relations

Retirement came quicker than anticipated for a Kimberley man.

Ronald Rossi says he had a sleepless couple of nights since finding out he won $1 M after matching all 10 numbers in the Lotto 6/49 Guaranteed Prize draw on Nov. 7.                                                                                                  
 
“I’ve been buying tickets since the lottery started,” said Rossi. “I’ve always said to myself that I would retire if I won and that’s what I’ve done.”
 
B.C.’s newest millionaire was checking his tickets at the Tamarack Centre Mall in Cranbrook when he found out he won.

“On the second last ticket I was checking I saw a bunch of zeros, but I didn’t see the one in front of them. I took it to the clerk and the sign said $1,000,004, I was in utter disbelief,” he said.
 
He went back to his car to call his wife, Christie, who didn’t believe her husband at first.

“I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was, in fact, telling the truth,” she said. “My first thought was for him to hurry up and get home, and I told him to drive safe.”
 
The couple held a small celebration with a bottle of champagne on the shores of Kootenay Lake where Rossi now plans on doing a lot more fishing.

He's already planning his first big purchase.

“I’ve always wanted a 57 Chevy,” he said. “Now I can retire and drive around in style. It’s so nice to have the security. It’s a happy feeling.”

Rossi is one of 11 British Columbians to win a Guaranteed Prize Draw so far in 2018.