Press release

Montréal, May 21, 2019 — Montréal couple Annie Gaudet and Benoît Béland happily won $1,000 a week for life through the Gagnant à vie édition spéciale lottery draw on April 7. The couple chose to forgo the annuity and instead opted for a cheque for $1,000,000, i.e. the lump sum prize.

In summary

• Lottery: Gagnant à vie édition spéciale
• Prize: $1,000,000 (one-time lump sum)
• Category: Grand prize
• Claim date: May 3, 2019
• Winners’ place of residence: Montréal
• Retailer: Tabagie Métro du Parc (7245 Rue Hutchison, Montréal)
• The retailer will receive a $10,000 commission, equal to 1% of the lump-sum prize.
• Claim centre: Loto-Québec head office in Montréal

Highlights

• Benoît had no idea his life was about to change when he went to go check his ticket.

• The clerk told him excitedly: “You can’t go to work... You have to go to Loto-Québec!” 

• Benoît was surprised by her remark, but didn’t think anything of it. He thought he saw $1 pop up on-screen! So he just said thanks and left the store.

• Later on, he thought again about what the clerk had said to him, and looked up the draw results on Loto-Québec’s website.

• “I couldn’t believe it!” Benoît admits. He immediately told his spouse Annie—co-holder of the winning ticket—that they’d won $1,000,000. At first, she didn’t believe it either.

• Benoît had always said that, if he ever won big, he’d surprise his brother Ghislain in some way with the news.

• With the help of Loto-Québec’s social media team and Marie-Josée Laplante from the customer service team, he took steps to ensure that Ghislain would get a shock when the couple came to collect their prize.

• Benoît called his brother up, saying that he needed his help with something. When Ghislain arrived at Benoît’s home, he sensed that the couple was up to something. Benoît and Annie then informed him that they’d won $10,000 playing the lottery and that they wanted him to come with them to Loto-Québec’s head office.

• When they arrived, the three of them posed for a picture in which they held a giant cheque for $10,000. And that’s when the Loto-Québec employees piped up. “I think your cheque is missing a few zeros...” Marie-Josée remarked, as she held out the real cheque for $1 million.

• Astounded and overcome with emotion, Ghislain wrapped his brother in a giant hug.

• The surprise worked and was shared on social media shortly afterwards.

Plans

• The couple says they’ll take the time to think about how they’ll invest this sudden influx of money.

A video of the winners is available on Loto-Québec’s YouTube channel.

1 000 000 $ : Annie et Benoît ont un plan surprise pour Ghislain!

About Loto-Québec

Loto-Québec’s mission is to responsibly and efficiently manage games of chance in a controlled and measured fashion, in the interest of all Quebecers. Entertainment is at the heart of its activities. Between January 1 and May 14, 2019, Loto-Québec has paid out 33 prizes of $1,000,000 or more, producing 38 millionaires. Its Gagnant à vie and Grande Vie lotteries have provided 11 lucky winners with a lifetime annuity. Winners of large prizes are listed on the Winners page of the Lotteries site.