A couple from Quebec has recently taken home a stunning CA$55 million from a Lotto Max jackpot win. Jean Laroque and his longtime partner Catherine Ennis from the Eastern Townships near Montreal earned the windfall on the October 31, 2023, draw of the nationwide game and they thought it was a Halloween trick. But it is quite real.
Since Mr. Laroque is a known joker, his partner did not take him seriously when he informed her that they had the winning ticket for the Halloween draw. She reveals that she was told the news about the Lotto Max winning when she was baking, and thought it was a joke, but she noticed that her partner started to shake, turned white, and started sweating with excitement.
Definitely Not a Trick
When claiming the cheque for the CA$55-million windfall at the Loto-Québec office, Mr. Laroque revealed that he has been buying lottery tickets for 50 years. He explained that he used small winnings from a previous draw to ultimately buy the life-changing ticket. The two shared that he also slept fitfully and woke up during the night to make sure the ticket was still in his pocket.
But besides losing some sleep, the two winners do not believe that their lives would change much, as they noted that they do not have any current grand plans. The two say they lead a simple life, as they are keen on the outdoors and riding bikes. The two also think long and hard before making any big purchases but in the end, they do not buy anything as they do not need it.
Instead of treating themselves to the big lottery winning, the duo plan on helping their close ones and giving back to their community by making some donations. The couple already have some ideas in their heads on where to contribute a portion of the money, but it remains a secret. They also have a bucket list made through the years, with people they want to help.
Quebecers Win Big
It has been a lucky period of time for lottery players in Quebec as three different winners have taken home a total of CA$110 million. Recently, a Montreal resident, Pierre Richer obtained a CA$50-million lottery windfall after going shopping for Thanksgiving fixings. His luck paid off in the October 6, 2023 draw of the nationwide game.
Meanwhile, in October 2022, the La Belle Province took the first mega jackpot in the revamped Lotto 6/49 game. The lucky lottery player took home a hefty CA$36 million from the new version of the draw-based game. The winning belonged to Jean-Marc Poirier who took his time in claiming his reward. He won the prize thanks to his Lotto 6/49 subscription online.
Loto-Québec President and CEO Jean-François Bergeron shared a few words on this latest mega win recorded in the province. He reminded that last year, the Crown corporation awarded around CA$1.5 billion to local lottery players. He added that the agency is honoured to be contributing to the community in this way while also helping people make their dreams come true.
Source: Olivier, Annabelle “No trick! Meet a couple who won a $55-million lottery jackpot on Halloween” GlobalNews, November 6, 2023
