When a fiery disaster struck at Paddington Station Apartments eight months ago, the 91原创 communities rallied in support, for the affected residents.

And now, the people of Paddington want to say thank you.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, the strata council members are hosting a free block party in their courtyard for the community to attend, complete with a BBQ, kids activities, and special performances by award winning country artists Karen Lee Batten and Emily Taylor Adams.

鈥淲e need to come around the community that came around us. And I love that it鈥檚 in our courtyard, it鈥檚 kind of like hugging us,鈥� said Donna Francis, strata council president.

鈥淲e think that this needs to be appreciated. We think it needs to be paid forward.鈥�

The was organized two years ago by Francis and strata council member Donna Moore to help foster a sense of community in their building.

At the time, they were struggling with a rash of break-ins, mail theft, and even people defecating in stairwells, and it was creating an atmosphere of fear and frustration for many of the owners.

Only a handful of people showed up to the party that first year. The following August, , and saw attendance double.

But it wasn鈥檛 until the destroyed the building at 5650 201A St. that their dream of community truly came to fruition.

鈥淭his is starting to feel like it was meant to be,鈥� Francis said.

鈥淎nd it鈥檚 almost like ask, and you shall receive. And we鈥檝e asked for a community, and we鈥檙e receiving one. It just didn鈥檛 come in the form that we thought it would come in. It鈥檚 coming through the ashes from the fire.

鈥淚f you speak it, it will happen. And we鈥檝e seen it. Mountains have moved here, big time.鈥�

It began the night of the fire, when the displaced residents were brought together at the Douglas Recreation Centre, Moore said.

鈥淵ou were just forced to be together,鈥� she said.

鈥淎nd everybody was a community as they walked in there, and it just got bigger and bigger and bigger. And you didn鈥檛 really realize it.鈥�

Candis Newell, a fellow strata council member, says she can see the difference in the residents every day.

鈥淲e would come into the building before it (the fire), and you might wave or you might say 鈥榟i.鈥� But then, after the fire, it was like people you didn鈥檛 even know would walk up to you and hug you,鈥� she said.

鈥淪o it鈥檚 pretty cool. But not only that, the community outreach has been amazing. Our neighbouring buildings were letting people in to sit in their lobbies, they were bringing out blankets and socks and food. And then the church, and the movie night 鈥� they gave everyone so much stuff.鈥�

The Aug. 12 block party will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 5660 201A St.

There will be a bouncy castle for kids, balloon twisting, face painting, creative crafts, caricature drawings, a magic show and a 50/50 draw with proceeds going to the Red Cross to support the wildfires.

Throughout the afternoon, both Batten and Adams will be performing.

This is the second time Batten is helping out the residents of Paddington. In December, she held a that raised nearly $60,000.

Adams, too, has a special connection to the building. She is a resident of Paddington Station, and she wrote and performed her own song for the residents at Batten鈥檚 fundraiser.

The theme of the event is 鈥榗elebrating great Canadian communities,鈥� so all attendees are asked to wear red and white, and to bring a non-perishable food item for the 91原创 Food Bank.

The event is open to anyone to attend, however RSVP is required. Please email strataplanbcs3568@gmail.com.

鈥淭his is for the community,鈥� Francis said.

鈥淭hey helped in our story.鈥�