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INUVIK - At first, Neil Firth didn't think much of his Western 6/49 winning ticket.

After having it checked at the drug store on Jan. 29, he heard the trademark "yahoo" sound, indicating he was winner.

A happy Neil Firth displays his Western 6/49 winning ticket of $100,000 on Tuesday. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The 58-year-old father of two little girls glanced up at the lottery booth monitor to see what his Jan. 27 ticket won him, expecting to find a free ticket or maybe $10.

Then all-out excitement and even panic ensued when he realized he was $100,000 richer.

"I said 'holy crap,' and other things a little more vulgar than that," he said with a laugh. "I couldn't think for a while there. I was sort of overwhelmed."

He then rushed to spread the news at the Inuvik Native Band office where he's employed as Renewable Resource Council co-ordinator.

"I told my boss I won $100,000 and I'm going down to Edmonton to claim it," he said. "So I went the next day."

Office receptionist Cathy Coyen was one of the first to get the news straight from the horse's mouth. She said she was overjoyed by her colleague's luck

"At first I couldn't believe it," said Coyen. "As long as he was here I couldn't calm down because he was pacing all around," she said with a chuckle.

The lifelong resident of Inuvik said his wife was also in a state of disbelief.

Before this, the biggest lottery cash prize Firth had ever won was $60, even though each week he buys one Lotto 6/49 ticket and a Western 6/49 ticket.

He didn't even pick his ticket's winning numbers. He just went for the "extra" option on the ticket slip where the lottery machine issued him seven random numbers. He won the $100,000 prize because six of those seven digits matched up with the grand-prize draw numbers.

While in Edmonton he decided to splurge on a brand new 2009 Jeep Compass. It's the first vehicle he has ever owned.

But don't expect Firth to go on a spending spree. He has already invested most of the money in a trust fund for his daughters.

"I'll sit on it for a while," he said. "I might be able to afford a few things more than I'm used to."

Though people continue to stop and congratulate him on the street, he said he is getting on with his life. But every so often, he can't help but feel so lucky.

"It's great help, that's for sure," he said.