LLOYDMINSTER, KINDERSLEY, RAPID VIEW — Three Saskatchewan residents are celebrating major lottery wins after each taking home $100,000 from recent Extra draws, with plans ranging from buying a farm to travelling and supporting family.
Russell Kendel of Lloydminster said his win is helping turn a long-held dream into reality.
Kendel said he had a “stack” of tickets saved up to check and brought them into a store to scan.
“I always use the self-checker,” he explained. “When I got to the winning ticket, I was dumbfounded and had to keep scanning it.”
He said he immediately phoned his fiancée, though she initially thought something was wrong.
“I called my fiancée right away and told her, but when she heard my voice, she thought something was wrong,” he laughed. “When I told her I won, she said, ‘You’re joking. This is not a funny joke.”
After sending her a photo of the retailer’s screen, Kendel said she realized he was serious.
“I want to put it towards buying a farm,” Kendel said. “That is my main focus.”
“It just [makes it easier] trying to buy our farm,” he smiled. “It feels good.”
Kendel purchased his winning Western Max and Extra ticket from the Co-op at 6110A 49 Ave. in Lloydminster. He matched the last six digits in the Dec. 5 Extra draw: 2213284.
In Kindersley, Jeroson Pacis also claimed a $100,000 Extra prize from the Jan. 14 draw.
Pacis said he scanned his ticket in store and could hardly believe what he saw.
“It came up as a winner and I thought, ‘This can’t be true,’” Pacis chuckled. “I was super happy—I just said, ‘Holy!’ and jumped up and down three times.”
He shared the news with his son after returning home.
“My son couldn’t believe it,” he smiled.
Pacis said the winnings will help him travel and invest in his yard business.
“I’d like to get back to the Philippines for a visit,” he said. “I own my own yard business so I would like to buy some more tools for that as well.”
“The rest will pay bills and go into savings,” he continued. “It’s a complete blessing—to be honest I haven’t slept for a week thinking about what to do with my winnings.”
Pacis also became a grandparent on the draw date.
“My granddaughter’s name means ‘God’s blessing,’” he smiled.
Pacis purchased his winning Western 649 and Extra ticket from Midtown Foods at 128 1 St. W in Kindersley. He matched the last six digits in the Jan. 14 Extra draw: 3742254.
Meanwhile, Rapid View resident Ed Toner won $100,000 on the Jan. 16 Extra draw.
“My wife checks all the tickets,” he chuckled. “I was downstairs watching a movie, and she ran downstairs and showed me the Lotto Spot app and said, ‘Read that! You won!’”
Toner said his reaction was immediate.
“I said, ‘Get out of here!’” he laughed. “My wife told me to do a happy dance.”
A long-time lottery player, Toner said the prize will help as he heads into retirement.
“It will definitely help in my retirement,” he said. “And I want to give something to our two boys to help them—we are expected a new grandchild soon so it’s definitely exciting timing.”
Toner purchased his winning Western Max and Extra ticket from Mobil at 830 9 St. in Meadow Lake. He matched the last six digits in the Jan. 16 Extra draw: 6640995.
