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Aunt's $675K birthday gift sets B.C. man's family for life

Jordan Marcellus first thought his winning ticket was a fake.
JordanMarcellusPittMeadowsLotteryWinSetForLife675KJune2022
Jordan Marcellus of Pitt Meadows, B.C., won $675,000 playing Set for Life.

A happy birthday, indeed.

When Jordan Marcellus' aunt purchased a Set for Life ticket for her nephew's birthday, little did she know she was giving his family the gift of financial security.

The B.C. man won $675,000 on the scratch ticket after his aunt, who was visiting the province from France, made the fortuitous purchase at Real Canadian Superstore in Pitt Meadows.

And Marcellus explains he didn't think it was real at first.

"Is it fake?" he asked himself, according to a BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) release on Thursday (June 2).

"It means we have the ability to set up our family and be extremely generous to others. It’s unbelievable."

Marcellus adds he was with his family when he realized he won the jackpot, noting they were also in "total disbelief."

He says he also filmed the reactions to make his birthday present even more memorable.

Marcellus plans to use the winnings to buy his family's first home, which was one of the things he and wife had mentioned to his aunt over dinner — two days before he scratched the ticket — when asking what they would do if they won the lottery.

BCLC says Set for Life players across the province won more than $13 million in prizes last year.