(CNN) Bill Pendergast has spent the last two years rebuilding his home, which burnt down when a wildfire raged through Fort McMurray, Alberta. Now, he is $1 million richer and able to finish restoring his family home thanks to the Atlantic Lotto.

Pendergast, 50, bought the $3 Lotto 6/49 ticket earlier this month when he stopped at the local convenience store in Newfoundland and Labrador on the way to visit his ill father.

"Dad called and asked me to stop on my way back to the hospital and pick him up a cold 7-Up," said Pendergast in a statement from the Atlantic Lottery

He didn't think much about the ticket he bought until the next day when he was awakened by his aunt, who was in a frenzy.

"'Bill, did you buy a lottery ticket? Someone won a million dollars' she told me," he said.

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