Bill Pendergast, 50, was visiting his ill father in Newfoundland and Labrador earlier this month and stopped in a convenience store to get his dad a soda.
"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.
On a whim, he purchased a $3 lottery ticket.
The next morning, he found out he was a new millionaire.
The money, the couple said, will be used mostly to help put the pieces back together, including finishing construction on their home, CBC reported.
But Pendergast does want one special gift.
"I have always wanted a Mustang, and I will finally have one, I'm 100% sure of that."