Salmon Arm resident wins $500K playing Lotto Max in memory of his dog

Salmon Arm resident Neil Piper is $500,000 richer, after winning the March 24 Lotto Max draw.

This is the second time he has won the lottery, claiming $100,000 a few years ago. Piper attributes his string of good fortune to his beloved dog Max.

“I like playing Lotto Max because my dog's name was Max, so this helps me remember him,” Piper said in a press release. He said he bases his number choices on Max, and continued to play in his memory.

Piper purchased the winning ticket at the Salmon Arm Chevron, and discovered that he'd won once he arrived home.

“I put the ticket away and went to work like nothing had happened. I wasn't sure what to think of it, so it was nice to have some time to think about it," Piper said.

Piper's father and coworker were the first to hear the news. In disbelief that he had won for a second time, Piper scanned the ticket once more on the BCLC Lotto App just to be sure.

His first big purchase will be a house, Piper said.

“It feels great. I get to buy the house of my dreams. It is a strange feeling! I enjoyed seeing all those zeros pop up on my phone!”


To contact a reporter for this story, email Brie Welton or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Brie Welton

Brie is a recent graduate from UBC Okanagan where she studied English and French while managing the campus newspaper. After working as an intern reporter for the summer of 2019 in her home-town of Kelowna, she rejoined the InfoNews team in March 2020 and moved to Kamloops.
Her interests range from food features and artist profiles to politics, crime and minority issues. She has a passion for story-telling and aspires to one day become a full-time court reporter.

More Articles