A Toronto family that had pieces of its Christmas nativity scene stolen says they have received an outpouring of support and donation offers, but will rebuild the missing pieces themselves.
David Stiles woke up earlier this week to find a baby lamb and a five-foot-tall plywood Joseph missing from the display outside his family home on Ramblewood Drive, near Ellesmere and Meadowvale Roads.
The Baby Jesus and other figures were left surprisingly intact.
Stiles said he has displayed the nativity scene every year to represent the true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ.
After his story was told on CTV News on Wednesday, Stiles said he received an outpouring of support from the public, as well as several offers from companies willing to make him new scene pieces.
"The response has been phenomenal. From people dropping in at my door to people phoning," Stiles said.
The scene has been placed outside the home for nearly 30 years. More than 50 foster children have lived with the Stiles family, taking part in the Christmas tradition.
Stiles' daughter Lisa said she remembered helping her father build the original pieces by hand. Now that she has children of her own, she thought it was appropriate they replace the missing pieces themselves.
"It wouldn't be right if it was done by someone else. When we did the original I didn't have kids so now they'll have their stamp on it," she said.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Scott Lightfoot
