For one Canadian couple, an unexpected lottery win is about to make their real estate dream a reality.
Jocelyn Ringuette and Josée Dumas live in the western region of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Ringuette recalled stopping at a gas station with a friend on Halloween to validate some lottery tickets when something strange happened: the screen flashed a “1” followed by several zeroes.
The store owner informed him that he had just won $100,000, but Ringuette wasn’t so sure and asked to recheck his ticket. After checking the ticket, the store owner said, “Sir, you’re a millionaire. It’s $1,000,000!”
Jocelyn Ringuette and Josée Dumas (Loto-Quebec)
After winning in the October 25 Quebec Max draw, Ringuette and Dumas were indeed $1 million richer. Ringuette immediately rushed to share the news with his wife, who was a bit skeptical.
“I was sure he was joking; he’s a prankster!” she explained. But the prankster was telling the truth this time, and Dumas finally believed him when she saw the ticket.
While at the Loto-Quebec headquarters to pick up their $1 million cheque, the couple shared their plans for using their winnings. They said they wanted to go on a family vacation and spoil their son.
However, their windfall will also allow them to invest in real estate, and the couple plans to buy a four-season cottage.
The winning ticket was purchased at Épicerie Tradition in Macamic. The retailer will receive a 1% commission of $10,000.
They’re not the only lucky winners from Quebec.
Loto-Quebec
Montreal resident Jean Lamontagne recently won half of the life-changing $80 million Lotto Max on Tuesday, December 3.
The 60-year-old didn’t waste time sharing the news with his bosses first, adding that he’d take advantage of the Lotto Max windfall to retire earlier than planned.
Lamontagne is close with his colleagues, so a few days after the big win, he returned to his workplace to treat them to a pizza lunch and say farewell. Read the full story here.
With files from Isabelle Docto
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