SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In the words of Lois Little, Back Bay's longest-standing resident, the community is a great place to live and deserves a celebration.

"After 25 years of building our community here, we've got so many stories to tell and memorable moments," said Little. "I think in our everyday life, we often forget all the things we've done as a community. So it's an evening to get to know each other and our neighbourhood again."

Dot Van Vliet (centre) looks at pictures of Old Town taken in the 1950's and 1980's while Dusty Miller (left) looks on in the background. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

This past week the Back Bay Community Association celebrated its 25th year of existence at Josephine Walcer Park last Thursday night. More than 25 current and former residents gathered in celebration of the memories that have shaped the ideals and beauty of the bayside community, also known as Peace River Flats. After dinner was done, the group sat around and shared stories that helped define what Back Bay meant to each of them; stories about axes being thrown into the ceiling, born-again virgin parties and backyard showers.

The association is a non-profit organization, formed in 1983 to help bring structure and a unified voice to one of Yellowknife's oldest communities.

Amanda Mallon, a former resident of Peace River Flats, lived in the neighbourhood for nine years.

"I lived in a shack that was bulldozed by the city very quickly," she said. "I lived without running water, with a woodstove in a very funny little shack. But this has always been a great neighbourhood; it's very attractive to people."

Dave Jones has resided in Back Bay for more than 26 years, making him the second-longest resident of the community. Watching the community take shape over the years has been interesting for Jones.

"I think back 28 years ago - at least the vast majority of the houses that are here now weren't here then. It was mostly vacant lots, industrial buildings and shacks," Jones said. "As land became more valuable and Old Town became more desirable to live in, people started to buy property here and started to build houses here."

Scott Duke, a resident of Peace River Flats on and off for seven years, came to Yellowknife in 1992. He said it wasn't hard to decide where to settle down.

"I got on to Old Town pretty quick," Duke said. "It's a neat part of town. There are great people who live down here. The neighbourhoods are small enough that there is a sense of neighbourhood, that you know your neighbours and their kids and their dogs."

In a time where the idea of community is lost in the world of suburbia, Duke says it's the long-time members of the community, people like Dave Jones and Lois Little, that help keep the spirit of the community alive and well.

"Old Town is that special combination of geography and the people that live here," Duke said. "There's not a lot of people that stick around for 20-plus years, especially in one neighbourhood. It makes a big difference in a community because you do get a sense of continuity, of history. You do get a sense of developed traditions like having progressive breakfasts in the winter for example. It's nice to come home to."