NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Chris Hopkins did not buy a lottery ticket in Norman Wells like he usually does on his way to visit family in Prince Edward Island when there is a big jackpot up for grabs.

Chris Hopkins and his wife Sandy Travis receive their $1 million cheque in Moncton, NB, after their Lotto Max ticket won in Montague, P.E.I, last weekend. - photo courtesy of Atlantic Lottery Corporation

He waited until he got home with his family to Montague, P.E.I, before he bought a Lotto Max ticket on April 15 for a chance at the $50 million prize.

It was the right choice.

Hopkins, who has been working in the North for about 20 years and currently holds the position of executive director of the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, heard rumours in the community of 2,500 on Saturday morning that there was a $1-million winner out there. When he stopped at the local Petro-Canada convenience store, people were lined up waiting to check their tickets.

Hopkins said two of his tickets showed they were winners on the scanner so he lined up to see what he won. The first was a free ticket, the second, $1 million. Up until two weeks ago, Hopkins said he had only won $10 and a free ticket before.

"The girl ran it through the terminal and on the second one, her eyes went buggy and she whispered at me because there were all kinds of people around. She said 'You won, you won the big one. You won a million,'" said Hopkins.

Hopkins' response: "Really."

"I'm still not really excited about it. It hasn't completely sunk in, I guess," he said.

Hopkins said after his 10-day visit with family on the Island, he is returning to Tulita on Sunday.

He said the family took out a bit of "play money" but for the most part, the money will be saved for retirements and their two sons' educations.

He said on his way home he usually stops in to the Rayuka Inn in Norman Wells for a meal and to wait for the plane. He said right before he left for the Island, owner of the Rayuka Inn Larry Wallace tried to persuade Hopkins to purchase a lottery ticket. The Rayuka Inn has the only lottery terminal in the Sahtu region.

"I said to him 'Naw, Larry. I got to wait 'til I get home to P.E.I. to buy a ticket there,'" said Hopkins.

Larry Wallace said he is waiting for Hopkins to return to his business and gloat.

"I did notice that he was going to continue working and keeping his job. Yea, I think he's only coming back here to rub it in and then quit," chuckled Wallace.

"I'm really happy for him despite the fact that he's going to rub it in when he gets back," he said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.