A big day for Kamloops resident Tom Beveridge, who is the big winner of the 2023 Kamloops Y Dream Home lottery.

Tom Beveridge won the $1.38 million dream home located at 2197 Coldwater Drive in Juniper West.

He tells Radio NL it was a strange way for the day to unfold.

“I initially got a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize and so I let it go to voicemail and I screened the call,” Beveridge said. “Then, the person phoned me on my work cell and I picked that up saying I needed to phone Bryce Herman right away.”

Beveridge says he called Herman immediately and was told that he was – in fact – the winner of the Y Dream Home.

“I was puzzled, I couldn’t imagine how that happened. It was not on the radar at all. Of course, when you buy a ticket you hope… but you know… I’m just incredibly grateful,” he said.

Beveridge says is still speechless, noting he never expected to win the dream home.

“I couldn’t believe the timing of it is pretty serendipitous. I worked for the school district for over 30 years and this is my last week, I’m retiring at the end of the week,” he said.

“At 9 a.m. this morning, just as a joke, I texted my wife and said, let’s win a house today… And that’s what happened.”

Sunroop Dulay was the other big winner Wednesday, as he took home $468,587.50 in the 50/50 draw.

In total, there were 29 prizes were awarded, with a complete list available online here.

-With files from Victor Kaisar