Eastern Townships couple wins Lotto Max prize worth $55M
But wife informs husband he still has to clean the pool
When Waterville resident Ann-Marie Francis turned on her computer Saturday to check her Loto-Québec numbers, she wasn't expecting they would reveal she had just become $55 million richer.
"I still don't believe it," Francis, the most recent Lotto Max winner, said at a news conference on Monday.
It took her five times to read the numbers on her screen before she finally went outside to see her husband, Ian Warcup, who had been cleaning the pool.
"She just said come in the house because she had something to show me," said Warcup. "I went in and I stopped cleaning the pool."
A secret to all
Francis and Warcup have five children between the ages of 24 and 31, all of whom live in the Eastern Townships. They also have three grandchildren.
"They don't know. They're finding out now," said Francis.
The couple attended the news conference in a limousine — something that made Francis laugh.
"We're just taking it easy and coming to terms with what's just happened," she said.
The couple works in a small promotional business in the Eastern Townships. Warcup also works a second job on the side.
For the moment, he has no plans on quitting, but said he may reduce his hours and retire soon.
"We lived well. We didn't live extravagant lives. We ate every day," said Warcup.
"The biggest thing is that we have our health," said Francis.
Husband may still have to clean the pool
The Lennoxville couple still don't know what they're going to do with the money, though Warcup said they would maybe look into buying a new house or repairing their current home.
He also said he would go on a vacation or invest in property with his son.
"I think I can retire. Enjoy my children and life," said Warcup.
When asked if he would continue cleaning his own pool, he replied that he might look at hiring someone to do the work for him.
But his wife seemed hesitant.
"I'll keep my pool boy," she said.
With files from Radio-Canada