Calgary man plans Panama cruise after hitting $5M jackpot

A Calgary man literally couldn’t believe his eyes when he checked his lottery ticket earlier this month.

A few days after the Jan. 3 Lotto 6/49 draw, Derek Maher took his ticket into a 7-Eleven to check his numbers on the self-serve ticket checker. As soon as he scanned it, he knew he won something but he couldn’t quite see how much.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“I didn’t have my glasses, so I couldn’t read it,” Maher said. “The numbers were blurry — but there were a lot of them.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I didn't have my glasses, so I couldn't read it," Maher said. "The numbers were blurry — but there were a lot of them."

Maher called his daughter into the store to help clear up the situation. As it turned out, he was the sole winner of the $5-million jackpot.

READ MORE: Alberta couple wins $60M in lotto, largest in province’s history

Maher hasn’t made too many plans with his winnings yet, but said a cruise to Panama with his mother is a possibility. He also said the money will help provide long-term financial security for his children.

Maher purchased his $19 ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 166 Crowfoot Way N.W.