Kelowna woman celebrates birthday with $2M lottery win

A Kelowna woman netted herself an early birthday present with a $2-million lottery win.

Just days before her birthday, Beverly (Christine) Gilbert checked her ticket to find out she'd won the jackpot.

Gilbert matched all six numbers on her BC/49 ticket for the April 6 draw, according to a B.C. Lottery Corporation media release.

"I had to scan it a lot to make sure," Gilbert said in the release. "My first thought was, ‘oh my gosh!’ It was surreal seeing all of the numbers match."

Gilbert first shared the news with her two daughters.

"I was talking to my youngest daughter on the phone when I checked my ticket… they were both very excited," she said.

Gilbert had a trip planned to Europe with a friend, which she'll now be sprucing up.

"I had this trip planned with a friend and now it’s definitely going to get an upgrade. I also will purchase a condo, pay off my car and do some investing," she said.

The Kelowna resident says she's still in disbelief about the win.

"This is going to make retirement so much better,” she says.

Gilbert bought her ticket from the Capri Shopping Centre in Kelowna.

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