Patrick Lamothe and his wife Johanne Leblond, their son Yannick, centre, and Johanne's father Guy Leblond, right, all from Montreal, hold their cheque for the $37.5 million jackpot win in the September 30 Lotto Max draw Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Republished October 04, 2016 - 12:05 PM
Original Publication Date October 04, 2016 - 10:00 AM
MONTREAL - What does a $37.5-million lottery windfall get you?
Canada's latest multimillionaires are going to start with a new computer and a pair of new shoes.
Loto-Quebec unveiled the winners of Friday's Lotto Max at a news conference Tuesday — a Montreal family who said they are determined to not let their good fortune lead to upheaval.
"We each have our dreams, but we are people who don't want our lives to change," said Johanne Leblond, one of the lucky quartet who'll split the prize.
Leblond will share the winnings with her husband Patrick Lamothe, their son Yanick Lamothe-Leblond and her father Guy Leblond.
A few basics are on the immediate list: new shoes for Leblond and a computer for her son.
And they appear to be keeping their lives as is — both husband and wife continued working at their engineering and retirement home jobs respectively this week as if they hadn't hit the jackpot.
Lamothe said he'd always figured he'd stop working in the event of a big jackpot, but the reality is he really doesn't feel like quitting his job.
"The only thing that changes, in the end, is that we won't be working because we have to but because we like what we do," he said.
"We're too young," added his wife. "Retirement might come a bit earlier, but for the moment, we're going to keep working."
Guy Leblond, who is retired, says his spending for 2016 is already mapped out and he'll hold off on making any major decisions until 2017.
"I have dreams," he said.
All four winners said they have "dreams" without elaborating. Pressed further, Johanne Leblond said there will be investments and perhaps a house.
She's not worried about people coming out of the woodwork seeking a piece of the prize.
"I don't want to think about that," she said. "I'm in good hands, I have good friends and a good family, I'll take it day by day."
Lamothe said he hopes everyone will respect their privacy.
The next Lotto Max jackpot is $10 million.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016