Kids in the Chemainus neighbourhood impacted by a strata bylaw prohibiting street play received a big surprise Wednesday afternoon.

A Canadian Tire truck rolled into the Artisan Gardens subdivision, stocked with toys, games and inflatable pools for the 11 kids in the neighbourhood to enjoy in their yards since street play is banned.

鈥淚t was Canadian Tire as a whole got a hold of it and asked if we鈥檇 be interested in getting into it,鈥� said Scott Bridger from Canadian Tire鈥檚 Duncan store.

鈥淪ummer鈥檚 long when you鈥檙e a kid. At least having these toys they can still have some fun in their backyard and take their minds off they鈥檙e not allowed in the street.鈥�

鈥淛ust hearing about the incident, the main store contacted us and wanted to make sure something was done,鈥� added cashier Steph Wise, who went along with Bridger to make the deliveries.

Wise made the announcement about all the goods to the attentive kids.

鈥淲e brought you guys some stuff so you can play in your backyards since you can鈥檛 play in the streets for safety reasons,鈥� she declared.

There鈥檚 only one teenager among the neighbourhood group and the rest of the children are 10 or younger. They were very excited - and so were the parents - to see the variety of gifts for the kids.

鈥淚t was pretty emotional,鈥� said parent Crystal Clarke. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe it. I鈥檓 so thankful. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

The strata board of the complex voted 15-4 in late June in favour of a roadways bylaw to ban kids鈥� street play, 鈥渋ncluding hockey, baseball, basketball, skateboarding, chalk artistry, bicycling or other sports and recreational activities.鈥�

The edict caused an immediate furor and news spread around the world denouncing the action.

Parents vowed to defy the order and Dylan Howard said it鈥檚 been status quo since then.

No action has been taken when kids have been riding their bikes along the quiet roadway to visit or play with other kids.

Howard said the strata council recently had a long meeting, but nothing was announced to the residents about what transpired.

鈥淲e鈥檒l assume something was at least said,鈥� he reasoned.

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping they鈥檙e going to rectify it to some sort of a compromise.鈥�

The publicity the incident has generated astounded Howard.

鈥淚t鈥檚 insane how far our little street has reached.鈥�

鈥淓verybody鈥檚 talking about it,鈥� noted Howard鈥檚 mom Laura, visiting from Edmonton.