If Alphonse Nguyen ever wins the lottery, he’ll be dividing his earnings among hundreds of residents living in CityPlace neighbourhood.

Not that he thinks he’ll ever win, of course. He wouldn’t want to jinx it.

When the TTC technician moved to CityPlace with his family in 2013, he bought a $5 lottery ticket and posted a photo of it in the neighbourhood Facebook group.

“Anyone want in?” he asked. Hundreds said yes.

The tradition continues to this day: Nguyen says he buys a lottery ticket when “the jackpot is big” and posts a photo, offering to split the winnings with anyone who replies to the post, the sole condition being that they live in CityPlace.

On Tuesday, Nguyen posted a picture of a Lotto Max ticket, with the caption: “CityPlace residents only. You know what to do!” He received roughly 200 responses, most just saying “I’m in” and thanking him. Some are more imaginative, like one comment that included a dancing chicken with the caption, “My happy dance when we win!”

“It’s just a little thing that makes people happy,” he says. “The odds are slim, but it’s fun.”

It’s a welcome gesture of goodwill for residents groups that can often spark heated debate and bickering among neighbours. Nguyen says he wanted a change of pace — this helps people feel like they’re part of the community.

Nguyen says he hasn’t really considered the prospect of winning, and says it could be difficult to divide up all the money if they ever do.

“I guess I’d have to verify that they’re all CityPlace residents,” he muses.

But for now, as they didn’t win Tuesday night, he’s just concentrating on the community-building aspect of his efforts.

“It’s just a little thing to keep people happy. And when the luck comes, it comes.”

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Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc With files from Ted Fraser

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