A group of co-workers at the Drumheller Institution is celebrating a million-dollar lottery win just before the holidays.
The five women won the $1 million guaranteed prize on the November 22 LOTTO 6/49 draw.
One of the group members, Dawn Bittorf of Strathmore, explained that they have been buying lottery tickets together for about four years.
Along with Bittorf, the other members are Dale Molyneaux, Amy Diegel, Tara Schellenberg, and Louise Kowalchuk – all of Drumheller.
Bittorf said she was the one to discover the windfall about a week after the draw, when she was checking the group’s tickets at a service station in Strathmore. She first saw the million-dollar prize amount on the store’s self-service ticket checker. She then asked the store clerk to double-check and confirm the win for her.
“I was shocked!” she said. “We’re all pretty surprised and happy.”
The group members said they’re still thinking about what they’ll do with their shares of the $1 million windfall.
Bittorf bought the winning ticket at Crystal Ridge Esso, located at 13-55 Wheatland Trail in Strathmore. The $7 LOTTO 6/49 ticket was part of a $24 Super Pack.