A couple finds a winning ticket of $ 1 million in a book a year later

A Canadian couple claimed a winning lottery ticket a few days before the deadline due to a stroke of luck.

Nicole Pedneault and Roger Larocque bought the Loto-Québec ticket on Valentine's Day last year and forgot it.

Then, Ms. Pedneault discovered the ticket last weekend while she was reading a book that she had brought back from vacation.

Their claim on the price would have expired Friday.

The Quebec couple won the grand prize of $ 1 million ($ 748,000, £ 572,000) in Montreal on Wednesday.

The draw for the tickets took place on April 5, 2018 and the winners have one year to claim their prize.

Ms. Pedneault had delved into the memories that the couple had bought during a trip to Japan to help her grandson in a school project.

It was at that point that she noticed that the lotto ticket was concealed in the pages of a purchased book.

"If my grandson had not asked to borrow these items for his demonstration presentation, I would never have found the ticket in time," she said.

She added that the couple was also delighted to have decided to buy the lotto ticket as a Valentine's Day gift instead of "flowers or chocolate".

They plan to use the money to care for their five sons and grandchildren, but said they have not yet spoken to their family about the in-the-box.

Mr. Laroque also plans to buy a new car.

He added that they were planning to buy "a poutine with a double serving of sauce and curd cheese at the restaurant" for a festive dinner.