Planets aligned for Quebec astrologer's lottery win
A Montreal man just got a boost on his retirement budget, after winning Loto-Quebec’s Grande-Vie prize, which comes in the form of $1,000 a day for life.
Robert Gareau is an astrologer who writes a monthly horoscope in local community papers, and although he didn’t "predict" his luck, he says he won because the planets were properly aligned.
"Jupiter was aligned with Uranus, within 20 degrees of the Taurus constellation," explained the 69-year-old man. "It hasn’t happened since 1941, and before that it was in 1850, all during big social disturbances."
Gareau says he was happy to take the $1,000 a day for life to spoil himself and his family, but when reminded that he could also take a lump sum payment of $7 million, he reconsidered.
"I suppose at my age I could die in six months, so might as well take all the money now," he said.
Gareau said he will put the money in the bank first, and will see what he plans to do with it later.
Gareau says he doesn’t have any major spending plans. He says his 2016 Volkwagen Golf runs perfectly fine and has no plans to change it, though he said he might finally replace his bicycle, which he says was stolen some time ago.
Asked how he reacted when he discovered he was the winner, Gareau said it was 4 a.m. when he noticed his ticket matched the numbers on Loto-Quebec’s website.
He said he wanted to go back to bed so he could check again in the morning.
"Trouble is, I couldn’t fall asleep again," he said.
The ticket was bought in a convenience store in Terrebonne, north of Montreal.
The owner of the convenience store will receive a 1 per cent commission on the prize, or $70,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
'A really bad car crash': Why health experts are raising concerns over surging syphilis cases
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that was once thought to be a thing of the past is now a public health priority for North American doctors.
Purolator truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. save man walking in Hwy. 407 lanes
A pair of Purolator transport truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. are being hailed as heroes for their efforts in helping a person in crisis.
Trudeau responds to American senators calling on Canada to increase defence spending
Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Italian teenage computer wizard set to become the first saint of the millennial generation
Pope Francis paved the way for the canonization of the first saint of the millennial generation on Thursday, attributing a second miracle to a 15-year-old Italian computer whiz who died of leukemia in 2006.
Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening?
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied.