Lotto 6/49: Three generations of a Quebec family share $2.5M win after years of paying the same numbers

A long-standing family tradition turned into a life-changing moment for a Quebec group spanning three generations, after they won a $2.5 million Lotto 6/49 prize. The eight family members from Bas-Saint-Laurent, Que., matched the Classic Jackpot in the Jan. 31, 2026 draw — a win that came after years of consistently playing the same set of numbers together.

At the centre of it all is “lottery captain” Julien Ross, who purchased the winning ticket at a convenience store in Mont-Joli, Que., and later checked the results online. Because he knew the group’s numbers by heart, it didn’t take long for him to realize what had happened.

When sharing the news with his loved ones, Ross raised his hands in the air just as his sister, Monique Ross, arrived at his house.

“Look, Monique! We won $2.5 million!” he said.

From there, Ross called each member of the group individually to share the news, turning the moment into a wave of excitement across the entire family. Across eight players, it means each family member will receive $312.5K from the $2.5 million jackpot.

The group later gathered at the Salon de jeux de Québec on Feb. 11, 2026 to officially receive their prize, celebrating the win together.

For some, the impact was immediate. Ross said “Bye-bye, boss” earlier than he’d expected when he found out he’d won, while his brother-in-law, Michel Beaulieu, plans to reduce his working hours.

Others are already thinking about how to make the most of the experience as a family.

Lina Belanger, Beaulieu’s spouse, hopes to organize a trip to Scotland to follow in the footsteps of the Ross family ancestors — and perhaps create a few new memories along the way.

For the younger generation, the win is opening new doors. Ross’ son, Pierre-Luc Bélanger Ross, plans to buy his first home with his spouse, Stéphanie Bouchard-Gagné.

The winning ticket was purchased at Tabagie Rivard, located at 33 Avenue Doucet in Mont-Joli. The retailer will receive a $25,000 commission.

The eight winners are Michel Beaulieu, Lina Belanger, Sylvie Bélanger, Pierre-Luc Bélanger Ross, Stéphanie Bouchard-Gagné, Gilberte Larue, Julien Ross and Monique Ross.

Lotto 6/49 is drawn every Wednesday and Saturday and offers two chances to win with each play. The Classic Draw features a fixed $5-million jackpot, while the Gold Ball Draw guarantees a winner every draw, with a jackpot that starts at $10 million and can grow beyond $60 million.

In this case, the Bas-Saint-Laurent family split a share of the $5 million jackpot, after another winner also matched the Classic Draw numbers. Their numbers were 1, 7, 21, 33, 41 and 47.

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