British Columbia

Nanaimo man wins $21M lotto 6/49 jackpot

The B.C. Lotto Corporation says Bill Laharty's win is the largest in Canada from a ticket purchased online.

BCLC says Bill Laharty's win is the largest in Canada from a ticket purchased online

Bill Laharty shows off his $21 million cheque for his Lotto 6/49 win at a news conference Thursday in Nanaimo, B.C. (CBC)

A man from Nanaimo, B.C., who digs hydro poles for a living is the winner of the latest Lotto 6/49 jackpot.

"Hole-digger Bill" Laharty, as he's known to his friends, won $21 million last Saturday. 

The B.C. Lotto Corporation says the win is the largest in Canada from a ticket purchased online.

"I checked my account and there were a lot of zeros and numbers and I phoned and they said I'd won," Laherty said. 

"It not only changes my life, it changes my family's life, my friend's life," he said. "It's a lot of money. It's more money then I'm ever going to need."

Laharty hasn't wasted any time starting to spend his winnings. 

"I've already bought a couple of cars. I haven't paid for them yet, but I bought them," he said, grinning. Two BMWs — one for me and one for my friend."

Retiring, travelling and buying a condo "somewhere exotic" like the Philippines or Bora Bora is also in the cards, Laharty said.