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20-Year-Old From Montreal Wins Top Prize After Revealing Three Piggy Banks, Chooses Lifetime Income of $1,000 Per Week and Secures $10,000 Commission for Local Store
Brenda Aubin-Vega, 20, from Montreal, won the lottery’s top prize after scratching a ticket during her break, securing $1,000 a week for life, an option chosen over a one-time payment of $1 million or an annuity.
Lifetime Prize Confirmed at Official Service
Aubin-Vega revealed three piggy bank symbols on the ticket and confirmed the result at Loto-Québec’s service center, where she reported immediate surprise and repeated checks before informing her father and finishing her shift that day.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw! I checked my ticket several times,” she said upon receiving the prize, according to Loto-Québec, describing the validation moment and her decision to take a break to absorb the news.
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Payment Options and Calculations Presented
Winners of Gagnant à Vie can choose between $1 million up front or $1,000 a week for life; Aubin-Vega opted for the weekly income to plan for the future purchase of a house.
With $1,000 a week, it takes 1,000 weeks, about 19 years, to reach $1 million; investing at 5% per year, the future value reaches $1 million in about 13 years and $2 million in 21 years.
Location of Purchase and Commission
The winning ticket was purchased at Dépanneur Jen & Dan, on Rue Poirier, in Montreal, a store frequented by the winner for small purchases; the establishment will receive a commission of $10,000 from Loto-Québec.
Game Rules and Statistics for 2025
Gagnant à Vie is a $4 scratch ticket from Loto-Québec, with a probability of 1 in 1.5 million for the top prize, requiring three identical symbols; winners have 60 days to choose the payment.
In 2025, ten lifetime prizes were awarded in Quebec across Gagnant à Vie and Grande Vie, with nine being $1,000 weekly and one being $25,000 annually, according to official data, as well as self-exclusion resources for those seeking to take a break from gambling, available in Canada.
