Yellowknife (Oct 22/04) - The winner of a $1 million Western 6/49 prize in Yellowknife has still not come forward. A ticket worth $1 million was recently sold in Yellowknife, confirmed the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

Lotto booth vendor Grace Burton holds a bunch of Western 6/49 tickets. A $1 million winning ticket from Oct. 13 remains to be claimed. - Joyce MacDonald/NNSL photo

The winning numbers were drawn on 0ct. 13 but no one has produced the winning ticket as of yet.

Lottery winners have one year to claim their prize money. A visitor to Yellowknife could have bought the ticket, but they would have to redeem it on the Prairies or in the Territories.

This is only the fourth time that an NWT resident has come out a $1 million lottery winner.

John Matheson of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation said it's not unusual for a winner to wait to come forward. "Some winners take a week or two because they want to consult with lawyers," he said.

Lottery ticket buyers in the city rushed to check their tickets upon hearing news of the winner.

"It's great that someone here won," said Warren Schurman. "I just wished it could have been me."

Another faithful lottery player said she may give up if she doesn't soon cash in.

"I bought so many and I never won," said Elsie Osmond. "I wish I was lucky enough on this one. If I don't win, I think I'll give it up."

Lottery ticket vendor Grace Burton said she's seen an increase in the number of people buying Western 6/49 tickets since June, when the price of regular 6/49 tickets increased to reflect more substantial cash prizes.

Unofficially, the winning numbers are 1, 8, 18, 36, 40 and 42, bonus 39.