Lottery winning 58-year-old janitor cleans up financially with a $7 million jackpot
Vito Halasan won $7 million in the British Columbia Lotto 649 game this month. PHOTO: BCLC Lottery
With every large lottery jackpot win comes a decision… stay in your job, or leave?
When Surrey resident Vito Halasan, 58, won his $7 million, it was an easy choice.
The Philippine-born man planned to stay in his janitor’s job after cleaning up financially in the British Columbia Lottery.
Though he does intend reducing his hours.
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Halasan’s says his win means he will be able to check off the top of his bucket list.
With three children and four grandchildren, his goal is to give his family the life they had dreamed of since moving to Canada from the Philippines in 2009.
The Filipino immigrant matched all six numbers on his Lotto 6/49 ticket from the April 27, 2019 draw, only a few days after celebrating his 58th birthday.
“I remember scanning my ticket and seeing all these numbers,” says Halasan.
“I have really blurry vision so I had to hold the ticket right up to my face. I couldn’t believe it.”
Halasan recalls calling his daughter in a panic in the hazy moments after realizing his big win.
She didn’t believe him.
“We had to check online several times,” she said.
“He sat me down at the table,” his daughter describes. “And then he whispered really quietly to me that he won $7 million dollars.”
“I buy lottery tickets so I can dream,”Halasan says. “I dream of being able to take care of my kids and make their future better. Now we’ll be able to buy a nice house for my children and grandchildren.
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