Image: Supplied by B.C Lottery Corporation / The nephew-and-uncle duo of Travis and John Bonner won $8 million from the B.C. Lottery back in March 2022. The Crown corporation is reminding residents of the prizes they can win in 2023, so long as they play responsibly, according to a news release Tuesday (Jan. 3).

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Lottery Winners

B.C. Lottery touts $8 million jackpot won by Chilliwack uncle-nephew duo as reason to play in 2023

Jan 3, 2023 | 9:29 AM

CHILLIWACK — The B.C. Lottery Corporation is touting two cumulative lottery jackpots of $9 million won by three Chilliwack residents in 2022 as it encourages people to play responsibly in the new year.

In a news release Tuesday (Jan. 3), the B.C. Lottery Corporation highlighted the winnings of an uncle and nephew duo, John and Travis Bonner of Chilliwack, who won an $8-million jackpot from the Lotto 6/49 draw on March 9, 2022.

John was at home enjoying a morning coffee when he decided to check their ticket on bclc.com and was stunned upon reading the winning numbers.

“I just kept seeing more and more numbers and then I saw there was a winning ticket in Chilliwack and knew it was real,” John recalled of the moment he found out they were winners of the jackpot prize of exactly $8,068,948.30.

“I was at work and John called me on my break… I didn’t believe it,” said Travis. “I was walking around confused all day and I knew things were going to change.”

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Both John and Travis had a hard time keeping the exciting news to themselves.

“My brother called me bragging about his recent Slots win that he won at the casino and I said, ‘I can do you one better,’” said John. “He was shocked.”

“I broke down and told my mom,” Travis explained. “She was so happy!”

The Chilliwack residents, who purchased their ticket at the Unsworth Market at the corner of Unsworth Road and Keith Wilson Road, made plans to celebrate their tremendous win over a big family BBQ and look forward to going vehicle shopping together. A new home was also on the radar for John, and Travis said at the time that he was thinking about retiring early.

“It’s so exciting… new place, new vehicle and some new golf clubs,” John added.

In 2021, B.C. lottery players redeemed more than $99 million in winnings from Lotto 6/49.

“As we welcome the new year, we’re excited to look back at 2022 and celebrate our players and the dreams that became realities for our lottery winners,” said Pat Davis, BCLC President and CEO. “BCLC is proud to generate revenue for the Province of B.C., which supports things we all rely on, like healthcare, education and community programs. We’re generating win-wins for the greater good, and today we’re celebrating the 45.3 million winning tickets sold in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley in 2022.”

Later in the year, Chilliwack resident Yolanda Gayasco won the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s Lotto 6/49 draw for a prize of $1 million.

“I checked my ticket online, but I didn’t check the little number at the bottom,” recalled Gayasco. “I didn’t think I won but then I took the ticket to the Save-On-Foods on Yale Road to check.”

According to a news release from BCLC on December 6, the Chilliwack resident was most excited to tell her husband that she won the lottery. In fact, after realizing she had won, she went to pick him up right away.

Apart from paying off her mortgage, Gayasco plans to travel to the Philippines in the new year to visit family.

“I am so happy that I won Lotto 6/49! I didn’t think it was real,” Gayasco said.

Gayasco purchased the winning ticket at the Real Canadian Superstore on Luckakuck Way in Chilliwack.

So far in 2022, B.C. lottery players redeemed more than $108 million in winnings from Lotto 6/49.

Lotto 6/49 is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 7:30 p.m. (PST). The Gold Ball Draw is a guaranteed prize draw where players will win either the Guaranteed Prize of $1 million, or the growing Gold Ball Jackpot that starts at $10 million. The Classic Jackpot offers a prize that is always $5 million. Players can purchase tickets at any lottery retailer or at PlayNow.com. Players can now check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices.

BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. The Crown corporation reminds residents to play for fun, not to make money. For more information, visit GameSense.com.