Two Quebecers win the $70M Lotto Max jackpot

What would you do with $35 million?

Two lucky Quebecers have won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot, which was drawn on July 11.

The first winner is Jacques Deschamps, who purchased his ticket in Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, and the other is Wilhelmina Van Leeuwen, who purchased theirs in Montreal.

While sipping on his morning coffee on Saturday, Deschamps checked his Lotto Max tickets and his life was changed.

At first, the man in his 60s thought the displayed prize was $3,500, then $35,000 — but when his spouse checked the ticket she was stunned.

“You won $35 million!” she said.

Deschamps then sent a photo of the winning ticket to his son, who was still sleeping.

“That’s for sure it’s real, that’s for sure, how can I explain that? It’s impossible it’s not a dream, it’s real,” he explained.

Impatient, he and his spouse called and told their daughter-in-law to wake him, as exciting news awaited them.

His winning ticket was purchased at the Chanteclerc convenience store in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, which will receive a one per cent commission of $350,000.

“This is the second time in a matter of weeks that the Lotto Max jackpot has been won in Quebec,” said Isabelle Jean, the executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Lottery Games at Loto-Québec.

Deschamps says the first thing he will do is travel across all of Quebec — something that’s been a tradition every summer for him and his family.

“After that probably I will go somewhere in Europe, another way, maybe in Holland, whatever I know, so travelling, I have some people to help me for that,” he said.

“My family will be close to me, to give me a hand on my mind to not be getting crazy with this money, but I think this is the good way to do this new life.”

For Leeuwen, it’s still something that’s hard to grasp, as she found out only Tuesday night while visiting her favourite store on Sainte-Catherine Street that she won.

“He checked my tickets, because I want to replay them, and he said, you’re going to be happy,” Leeuwen said on her life changing moment. “You’re going to be happy, you won $35,000, and they said no, no, you won $35 million! So then we’re all laughing with other people in the store.”

Both were present at a press conference at the Loto-Québec head office on Wednesdau, where they took a photo with their big cheque.

For Deschamps, he wants to spoil his family with the winnings, purchase a condo in Montreal, and hopes to travel to explore the world.

On June 3, 15 employees at a car dealership in Trois-Rivières split the $20 million Lotto Max jackpot, with each taking home $1,333,333.

CityNews asked Montrealers what they would do if they won a multi-million-dollar jackpot.

“I think I will buy a big house to let everyone who needs to come inside my house,” said one Montrealer.

“First I will send my mom and dad to a world tour, I guess, and then me and my boyfriend will go and we will buy the good houses and everywhere,” said another.

Others said they would try their best to remain anonymous from the public after their winnings, or put it in a savings for their family.

“Giving money to my family, keeping money to myself, enjoying life and working. I’m still going to continue work, create stuff,” said a Montrealer.

“You still have to do something of your life. Money is not everything.”