For many of the clients coming into Sidney resident William Scott Gurney害羞草研究所檚 office, they likely would have been unaware of the life-changing bit of paper sitting in his locked desk drawer 害羞草研究所� a winning lottery ticket for $55 million.

Gurney works as a bookkeeper and financial advisor. But rather than take the cash and run, he hunkered down and endeavoured to make it through tax season (checking the drawer every couple of days to make sure the ticket was still there).

害羞草研究所淚 just didn害羞草研究所檛 want to 害羞草研究所� when I first noticed 害羞草研究所� it was 害羞草研究所榙o I close the doors or stay open?害羞草研究所� But so many of the people that are my clients and friends have been with me for 20, 30 years, and it just wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be fair to them to just throw them out on the street like that. So I made the decision to stay open through tax season and I害羞草研究所檝e got my wonderful staff out there working.害羞草研究所�

Gurney first bought the ticket on Feb. 28 and after checking the numbers several times in disbelief, he decided to keep it relatively secret. Residents害羞草研究所� speculation about the identity of the mystery jackpot winner was put to rest Tuesday (April 4) when the B.C. Lottery Corporation announced Gurney had won February害羞草研究所檚 $55 million Lotto Max jackpot prize 害羞草研究所� the largest win on Vancouver Island.

He purchased the ticket at the Save-On-Foods location on Beacon Avenue in Sidney.

Once the busy period is over, Gurney plans on retiring and finding somebody to take over his business.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e tried to keep it small. But it was getting harder and harder when people are saying 害羞草研究所榳e害羞草研究所檒l see you next year.害羞草研究所� As much as I害羞草研究所檇 love to, I don害羞草研究所檛 know if I want to do another tax season.害羞草研究所�

As a financial advisor, Gurney is well positioned to handle the life-changing amount of cash that害羞草研究所檚 coming his way and plans to follow the advice he害羞草研究所檇 give out to any of his clients.

害羞草研究所淭ake six months, stop. Don害羞草研究所檛 do anything rash. Just evaluate what you want and then start going from there. Don害羞草研究所檛 make rash decisions.害羞草研究所�

Gurney already had a month-long trip planned this year and hopes to see as much of the world as he can, saying he害羞草研究所檚 eyeing trips to Morocco, Turkey, and perhaps a safari.

害羞草研究所淭here are so many amazing things out there. But every time I come home, in Sidney going on the pier, I害羞草研究所檓 amazed by what we have here and all the tourists I meet out there.害羞草研究所�

As far as his permanent home, he plans to stick on the Island, having moved from Regina in the 害羞草研究所�90s, though he害羞草研究所檒l be looking for a house with a dock as he害羞草研究所檚 an avid crabber. He害羞草研究所檒l think about helping out friends and family but wants to make sure the money lasts. He also plans on mulling over which charities he害羞草研究所檇 like to donate money to, saying he has a particular fondness for the BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

害羞草研究所淭he funniest thing I害羞草研究所檝e found is that 害羞草研究所� we all dream, if we win the lottery, we害羞草研究所檒l do this, we害羞草研究所檒l do this, we害羞草研究所檒l do this. I noticed you rethink that once it happens because now it害羞草研究所檚 a possible reality.害羞草研究所�

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