A Quebec woman almost tossed a lottery ticket worth $500K while cleaning her garage
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-quebec-woman-claims-a-500000-loto-quebec-ticket.jpg?id=55832245&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=45%2C0%2C45%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Cleaning out the garage is a tiresome task that most people dread. But for one Quebec woman, it turned into a life-changing moment she'll never forget.</p><p>Sandra Turrin from the Laurentians stumbled upon an important piece of paper earlier this month while tidying up her house — a winning Lotto Max ticket worth an eye-watering $500,000.</p><p>The ticket had been sitting at the bottom of an old grocery bag since the summer. Before tossing it in the trash, Sandra decided to check the results of the draw — which took place on August 13 — and thank goodness she did. </p><p>"I feel twice as lucky," she said in a Loto-Québec press release shared with MTL Blog. "I won, and I found the ticket before it expired."</p><p>Turrin, who purchased the winning ticket at the Jean Coutu pharmacy on Saint-Jacques Boulevard in Boisbriand, says she intends to pay off her mortgage with her newly-claimed winnings. </p><p>According to their <a href="https://loteries.lotoquebec.com/en/winners/prize-claims#:~:text=For%20draw%2Dbased%20lottery%20games,date%20shown%20on%20the%20ticket." target="_blank">website</a>, Loto-Québec gives winners one year from the draw date to claim a prize. They also suggest signing your name on the front of any winning tickets as well as filling out the back section. This proves that you're the rightful owner of the ticket and protects you against loss or theft.</p><p>So, if you've got any old tickets lying around, consider this your sign to check them before it's too late. Who knows? That jackpot might be closer than you think!</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
Cleaning out the garage is a tiresome task that most people dread. But for one Quebec woman, it turned into a life-changing moment she’ll never forget.
Sandra Turrin from the Laurentians stumbled upon an important piece of paper earlier this month while tidying up her house — a winning Lotto Max ticket worth an eye-watering $500,000.
The ticket had been sitting at the bottom of an old grocery bag since the summer. Before tossing it in the trash, Sandra decided to check the results of the draw — which took place on August 13 — and thank goodness she did.
“I feel twice as lucky,” she said in a Loto-Québec press release shared with MTL Blog. “I won, and I found the ticket before it expired.”
Turrin, who purchased the winning ticket at the Jean Coutu pharmacy on Saint-Jacques Boulevard in Boisbriand, says she intends to pay off her mortgage with her newly-claimed winnings.
According to their website, Loto-Québec gives winners one year from the draw date to claim a prize. They also suggest signing your name on the front of any winning tickets as well as filling out the back section. This proves that you’re the rightful owner of the ticket and protects you against loss or theft.
So, if you’ve got any old tickets lying around, consider this your sign to check them before it’s too late. Who knows? That jackpot might be closer than you think!
Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/close-up-of-a-one-hundred-canadian-dollar-bill-showing-the-map-of-canada-surrounded-by-coins.jpg?id=59800284&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=45%2C0%2C45%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you’ve ever looked at your paycheque and wondered if people in other parts of Canada are earning way more, you're not alone — and you might be right.</p><p>New <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410022301&utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">data from Statistics Canada</a> has revealed the average salaries across the country as of January 2025, and let's just say Quebec isn't exactly leading the charge. While Canada's national average climbed to $1,294.26 per week — about $67,300 per year — Quebecers are still earning <em>well</em> below that benchmark.</p> <h3>Quebec is stuck in the bottom half</h3> <p>The average weekly salary in Quebec is $1,237.52, which works out to around $64,351 per year. That puts la belle province below not only the national average but also behind provinces like Alberta, Ontario, and even Newfoundland and Labrador.</p><p>To put it into perspective, here’s how we compare:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Alberta:</strong> $71,140/year</li> <li> <strong>Ontario:</strong> $69,147/year</li> <li> <strong>Quebec:</strong> $64,351/year</li> </ul> <p>While Quebec isn't dead last, we're definitely closer to the bottom than the top.</p> <h3>The North is rolling in it</h3> <p>Shockingly, the highest average salaries in Canada aren't even in the provinces — they're up north. Nunavut takes the top spot with a weekly wage of $1,821.77 — over $94,700 per year — followed closely by the Northwest Territories and Yukon.</p><p>That means workers in Nunavut are making over $30,000 more than the average Quebecer, and nearly $40,000 more than those in P.E.I., which had the lowest average salary in Canada.</p><p>High salaries in northern regions are often tied to remote work conditions, higher living costs, and the difficulty of attracting talent to isolated communities.</p> <h3>Quebec’s wage growth is steady — but it’s not enough</h3> <p>Yes, Quebec salaries have grown in the past year — but not fast enough to keep pace with provinces that are home to booming sectors like oil and tech. <span style="background-color: initial;">While <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-minimum-wage-2025" target="_blank">minimum wage is set to increase from $15.75 to $16.10</a> per hour on May 1, 2025, t</span><span style="background-color: initial;">his 2.22% raise will benefit approximately 217,400 employees,</span></p><p>And with job vacancies on the decline across the country, it's not getting any easier to level the playing field.</p> <p>Here's how each province and territory stacks up, ranked by average weekly earnings as of January 2025:</p><span></span><h4>Above the national average:</h4> <ul> <li> <strong>Nunavut</strong> – $1,821.77/week ($94,732/year)</li> <li> <strong>Northwest Territories</strong> – $1,814.09/week ($94,333/year)</li> <li> <strong>Yukon</strong> – $1,484.62/week ($77,200/year)</li> <li> <strong>Alberta</strong> – $1,368.07/week ($71,140/year)</li> <li> <strong>Ontario</strong> – $1,329.75/week ($69,147/year)</li> <li> <strong>British Columbia</strong> – $1,299.99/week ($67,599/year)</li> </ul> <h4>Below the national average:</h4> <ul> <li> <strong>Newfoundland & Labrador</strong> – $1,286.67/week ($66,907/year)</li> <li> <strong>Saskatchewan</strong> – $1,262.05/week ($65,627/year)</li> <li> <strong>Quebec</strong> – $1,237.52/week ($64,351/year)</li> <li> <strong>New Brunswick</strong> – $1,182.25/week ($61,477/year)</li> <li> <strong>Manitoba</strong> – $1,164.53/week ($60,556/year)</li> <li> <strong>Nova Scotia</strong> – $1,148.93/week ($59,744/year)</li> <li> <strong>Prince Edward Island</strong> – $1,097.38/week ($57,064/year)</li></ul><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p>
<p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-man-stands-in-front-of-a-lighthouse-right-a-woman-walks-through-baie-st-paul.jpg?id=61555259&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=97%2C0%2C98%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Quebec has no shortage of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montmorency-falls-montreal-quebec" target="_blank">spots that'll take your breath away</a> (it's not called "la belle province" for nothing!). From the cobblestones of Old Quebec to the emerald green waters of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/anticosti-largest-island-quebec" target="_blank">Anticosti Island</a>, the province is full of places waiting to be discovered.</p><p>Now, one small Charlevoix town has been crowned North America's most peaceful destination.</p><p>A <a href="https://blog.betway.com/casino/the-most-peaceful-places-in-north-america/" target="_blank">new study from Betway</a> compared towns across Canada and the U.S. on everything from air quality to population density to online searches for "noise" and "spas." The winner wasn't a remote island or a luxury resort, but Baie-Saint-Paul — a riverside town tucked between mountains and the St. Lawrence.</p> <h2>The ranking</h2> <p>Baie-Saint-Paul didn't top any single category in the ranking, but its strong performance across the board, which included an average air quality index of 27 and a population density of just 35 people per square kilometre, pushed it to the top.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DATC9E0Ie1J/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DATC9E0Ie1J/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>In fact, Canadian towns dominated the list, claiming five of the top six spots. Here's the full top 10, along with each spot's overall score:</p> <ul> <li> Baie-Saint-Paul, QC – 72.78</li> <li> Jasper, AB – 70.41</li> <li> Tofino, BC – 69.86</li> <li> Killarney, ON – 69.57</li> <li> Woodstock, NY – 68.17</li> <li> Ucluelet, BC – 68.01</li> <li> Bar Harbor, ME – 67.04</li> <li> Bluff, UT – 65.78</li> <li> Truth or Consequences, NM – 64.28</li> <li> North Conway, NH – 64.15</li> </ul> <h2>Why Baie-Saint-Paul stands out</h2> <p>Set between mountains and the river, Baie-Saint-Paul has long been a favourite stop for big-city folks looking for a slower pace.</p><p> The town is known for its abundance of art galleries, farm-to-table dining, and hiking trails that reveal sweeping Charlevoix views.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNeyThTo8Pb/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNeyThTo8Pb/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>In fact, MTL Blog readers often name it one of their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MTLBlog/posts/pfbid0cXYf1pay3vnjLBPKYu3kM1qiVsJBmSZ73fX7AvRtFM9Jp2oXqneYfDwTSAjKFDbBl" target="_blank">top fall destinations</a>, raving about the fiery foliage that lights up the valley every year. Many also point to the wider Charlevoix region as one of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MTLBlog/posts/pfbid0Hm3oAbWA9nBt6vVqjVadGBXk6eJnCGUWogTY2rgz1muLm5qqpxzRFSsjT3SuRmSFl" target="_blank">Canada's most beautiful areas</a>, and Baie-Saint-Paul sits right in the middle of it. It's also a common stop for anyone heading from Quebec City up to La Malbaie or Tadoussac.</p><h2>Peaceful, but not boring</h2><p>Tranquil doesn't have to mean dull. Baie-Saint-Paul has a strong creative streak. Its streets are lined with cafés, boutiques, and galleries that make strolling through town feel like walking through a movie set.</p><p>Food is a big part of the draw. Le Mouton Noir is loved for its terroir-driven plates overlooking the Rivière du Gouffre, while Les Labours at Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel puts local producers front and centre. Beer fans head to MicroBrasserie Charlevoix, where classics like Dominus Vobiscum and Flacatoune have put the region on the craft beer map.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvxm-sSORCY/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>And then there's the river itself. At Boisé du Quai Park, a sandy beach stretches along the edge of the St. Lawrence. On warm days, locals and visitors alike lay out on the sand, dip their toes in the water, or just watch the tides against the mountain backdrop.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-3ltXssnLq/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-3ltXssnLq/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p><span></span>Meanwhile, there's no shortage of ways to explore the outdoors. You can kayak on the St. Lawrence, hike into the surrounding hills, or catch views that stretch across the entire valley. If you're up for a short drive, the region is also one of Quebec's prime whale-watching hubs.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxsRMKXM63/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxsRMKXM63/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>It's certainly peaceful, but far from boring.</p> <h2>Getting there</h2> <p>Best of all, Baie-Saint-Paul isn't hard to reach.</p><p>By car, it's just over three hours from Montreal or about an hour from Quebec City, making it an easy weekend escape. Unlike some laborious treks, the drive itself is part of the appeal. Once you leave the highways behind, the road winds through the Charlevoix hills with plenty of places to pull over for epics views of the Fleuve.</p><p>But once you're in town, everything is pretty walkable. From cafés and galleries to the riverfront beach, you don't really need a car to enjoy it.</p><p>That's part of the charm: you don't have to fly across the country to find peace and quiet. A few hours on the road, and you're in a place where time slows down (in the best way possible). </p>
Sacred Heart Primary School in Swaffham to Transition to Non-Denominational Status In a significant development for the Swaffham community, Sacred Heart Primary School is set…
