In Quebec, summer is festival season in a big way and Loto-Québec is one of the main partners in funding it.

That’s one of the main benefits from the lottery and gaming market in the province, said Loto-Québec  spokesperson Renaud Dugas. Loto-Québec sponsors events in different regions around the province that are selected on their ability to attract tourists and generate economic spinoffs for communities, all with an eye to sustainability, reducing the impact on the environment.

“Giving back to the community is important. At Loto-Québec, that’s a given. It has been in our DNA since the very beginning. We’re one the major partners at events across Québec that bring people together and generate benefits for the entire community,” added Benoit Lefrançois, corporate vice-president of responsible gambling, communications and social responsibility at Loto-Québec.

The crown corporation announced its summer 2023 season of the “Rendez-vous Loto-Québec,” and with COVID mostly in the rearview mirror, it’s contributing to a total of 50 festivals and events taking place this summer in all 17 of Quebec’s administrative regions.

The season opener was yesterday; Santa Teresa festival in Sainte-Thérèse, a music event held in the Montreal suburb, runs through tomorrow. The Montreal Jazz Festival, June 9 to 17, is another big event. So is Jonquière en Musique, June 28 to July 15, a music festival free of charge on the main Loto-Québec stage at Rivière-aux-Sables park in the Jonquière borough.

Events will take place throughout the summer, through the Festival International Contes en Îles, in Cap-aux-Meules, which will bring the season to a close in mid-September.

In their fiscal third quarter (Sept. 27-Dec. 26, 2022), Loto-Québec posted total revenues of $2.225 billion, and a consolidated net income of $1.204 billion. Those numbers represent increases of $521.9 million  (30.7%) and  $295.8 million  (32.6%), respectively, over the same period last year.