Image: BC Lottery Corporation / Hope resident Thelma Florence, a residential school survivor, won the $1 million prize draw on April 1, April Fools' Day. Florence, a member of the Chawathil First Nation, Florence plans to purchase a new car in her favourite colour, green, and help her grandchildren into new vehicles, too.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Hope resident wins $1 million lottery pr

Hope resident, residential school survivor wins $1 million Lotto 6/49 prize draw

Apr 12, 2023 | 10:41 AM

HOPE — Of all the days to win a lottery prize, it was no prank when Thelma Florence of Hope won the $1 million Lotto 6/49 draw on April Fools’ Day on April 1.

In a news release from the B.C. Lottery Corporation, Thelma Florence said her hometown of Hope was buzzing with the news of a local winner. When she checked her winning ticket on the BCLC Lotto app the next morning, she was in utter shock.

“I thought, ‘Is this real? Me? Really?’’’ said Florence. “I sent a screenshot of the app into the family group chat and everyone wondered if it was a late April Fools’ Day joke.”

As the shock began to wear off, Florence said she is “happy and excited” for her and her family, BCLC said in its news release. With the winnings, Florence plans to purchase a new car in her favourite colour, green, and help her grandchildren into new vehicles, too.

Florence is a member of the Chawathil First Nation and a survivor of residential school at St. Mary’s Mission and Residential School, according to the press release from BCLC. She now visits schools in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to speak about her experiences. Emphasizing the significance of this truth-telling, Florence said she will continue to share her story with young people in the region to promote awareness about the residential school system.

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Florence bought her ticket at Bee’s Food Market in Hope.

In 2022, B.C. lottery players redeemed more than $113 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). BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. For more information, visit GameSense.com.