Canadians have a debt problem. One man was facing down $100,000 of debt—so he moved into his 2013 Kia Rio hatchback.
Canadians have a debt problem. This year, the country’s consumer debt hit $2.41 trillion—the highest of any G7 country and more than Canada’s total GDP. Thanks to staggeringly high cost of living, rising post-secondary tuition fees and soaring interest rates, debt-ridden Canadians are now the norm rather than the exception. It’s an incredibly stressful position to be in, but for many people, it’s the only way to make ends meet. One of those desperate Canadians is Marc-André Gagnon. He graduated from university in Quebec, certain he’d end up with debts but equally certain he’d earn enough money to pay them off. Eventually, however, he racked up almost $100,000 in student loans, credit card bills and a line of credit. In his business consulting job, he wasn’t earning enough to cover basic costs, much less pay off his debts, so he started delivering food 25 hours a week. When his roommate moved out of their home, Gagnon decided that instead of paying rent he’d move into his 2013 Kia Rio hatchback and use the money he saved to service his debt. Gagnon has written a candid, compelling memoir for the November issue of Maclean’s about his radical move to reduce his debt. “I became consumed with scary thoughts,” he writes. “If I didn’t figure out my financial situation, how long would this debt be a burden? Would it destroy my future family? Would it prevent me from living my life, seeing the world, caring for people I love?” —Emily Landau, executive editor |
In 2016, Brad and Lesley Wanchulak were living in a semi-detached home in Calgary with their two-year-old daughter, Ella. Then Brad found his dream property: a three-acre lot surrounded by poplars and pines in Springbank, a rural community west of the city. Lesley soon fell in love with the idea of her children waking up with the Rockies in sight. So the couple bought the land and embarked on a four-year project to build their forever home from scratch. |
In only two years, online betting has changed the face of Canadian sports, lit up gambling addiction hotlines and siphoned billions of dollars from fans to industry and governments. It’s just getting started. Read our November issue cover story by Anthony Milton now. |
So far, Céline Dion’s comeback has included an Amazon Prime documentary and a powerful performance at the Paris Olympics. Now, the off-Broadway sensation Titanique hits Canada at Montreal’s Segal Centre, blending Dion’s iconic ballads—like “My Heart Will Go On” (obviously) and “All By Myself”—with James Cameron’s 1997 tearjerker. The result? A hilarious retelling of Jack and Rose’s tragic love story, told by an over-the-top (faux) Dion, for fans who’ll never let go. —Rosemary Counter |
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