When Jean Laroque and his wife Catherine Ennis looked up the results online the next day, they were shocked. When the screen showed them their prize, a whooping $55,000,000, Laroque couldn't believe what he saw.
Quebec, Canada - A retired couple from Quebec is celebrating an unexpected windfall after winning a staggering $55 million in the Lotto Max jackpot on Halloween night. Jean Laroque, a Quebec retiree, used his winnings from a previous modest Lotto Max prize to purchase a ticket for the October 31st draw from a local depanneur in Coaticook.
The couple, Jean Laroque and his spouse Catherine Ennis, were in for a shock when they checked the results online the following day. Laroque couldn't believe his eyes when the screen displayed a whopping $55,000,000 as their prize.
Excitedly rushing to share the news with Ennis, Laroque was met with skepticism from his spouse, who, known for her sense of humor, initially dismissed his claim. Ennis recounted, "He said, 'You’ve got to come see, I won!' and I said 'Oh, yeah Jean, I’m baking, leave me alone.' He was shaking, he was white, he was sweating, so I said, ‘I’m going to go see what the problem is.'"
To confirm their incredible stroke of luck, the couple meticulously checked their ticket four times, ensuring it was indeed the real deal. Laroque, not taking any chances, even slept with the precious ticket in the pocket of his pajamas, waking up several times during the night to verify its presence.
With the winning ticket securely stowed, Laroque promptly headed to the bank to deposit it into a safety deposit box. Remarkably, the bank opened its doors early on Monday to accommodate him, ensuring the golden ticket was retrieved in time for the ceremonial proceedings.
The Eastern Townships couple, still grappling with the enormity of their newfound wealth, expressed their intentions to pamper their loved ones and contribute to causes close to their hearts. Before diving into their charitable endeavors, however, they plan to take a leisurely trip, possibly to Scotland, allowing the magnitude of their good fortune to sink in.
Interestingly, Laroque joins a recent wave of sizable lottery winners in the region. Just weeks before his incredible win, a resident of Montreal claimed a $50 million jackpot, while a group of coworkers secured a $5 million prize. Additionally, the Quebec 46 jackpot, totaling $2 million, has seen three fortunate winners in the past two months, underscoring the streak of good fortune sweeping through the area.
