Diane Pugh has realized her million dollar dream. (Sask Lotteries)

By Nigel Maxwell

Rich people

‘I couldn’t believe it’: P.A. woman claims $1 million lotto win

May 22, 2024 | 4:58 PM

Saskatchewan’s newest millionaire is a woman from Prince Albert.

Diane Pugh won $1 million on the May 7 draw of the Western Max and admits when she initially scanned her ticket, she only saw five zeroes.

“It’s hard to count all of those zeroes on the screen,” she laughed while claiming her prize. “I thought it was $100,000 so I took it to the cashier. He scanned the ticket and asked: ‘Do you know what you won?’”

“I couldn’t believe it!”

And the timing could not have been better. Pugh won her prize just before taking her husband’s truck to the shop for some expensive maintenance work.

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“My husband was waiting for me in the car,” she explained. “I got in and told him not to bother taking his truck to the shop. We’re going to buy a new one.”

In addition to plans of speaking with a financial advisor, Pugh also hopes to travel to Hawaii.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Canadian Tire Gas+ store at 290 Marquis Rd. W. in Prince Albert.

Pugh won by matching all seven numbers on one of the 14 additional WESTERN MAX $1 million prize draws — 1, 3, 28, 43, 44, 45 and 48. She said the best part about her win is the feeling it gave her.

“It was a shock at first, but now it just feels like a weight has lifted off my shoulders,” she said. “We don’t have to think twice about our finances now.”

Pugh is the second person from Prince Albert to win a million dollars in just over a week. Singer Rebecca Strong took home the largest cash prize in Canadian television history when she won Canada’s Got Talent last Tuesday night.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell