Toy's rescue from frozen canal warming hearts

The stuffed fawn is small and somewhat scruffy, but it means the world to Nico Lavalle,4.

The little deer, purchased at the Parc Omega gift boutique, even hadwhite spots on its soft hindquarters.But instead ofBambi, Nicocalled it Rudolph, and the name stuck.

But then, disaster struck. While out for a family stroll along the Rideau Canal last week, Nico'slittlebrother Santiagochucked Rudolph over therailing and onto the snow-covered ice below.

"The two-year-old, in toddler fashion, just saw the opportunity to grab it and watch gravity to make sure it still works ... in the second that I wasn't looking," said mom Brenda Duke, 35.

There were tears asDuke tried to explain to Nico that they couldn't just climb down and retrieve Rudolph. Notices advise peopleto stay off the canalor face a fine, and there had been public warnings about unsafe ice.

Nor did Dukewant to contradict her own exhortations.

"With the two-year-old especially, I still worry that he is going to fall in, so we made a very strong point of constantly sayingthat is so dangerous,you can't go there, the ice isn't ready."

I didn't want to bother anyone. I don't think anyone would care.- Brenda Duke

Several times over the next few days, the family "visited" Rudolph, who gradually became covered with freshlyfallen snow.Luckily, the incident happened near a distance marker sign, allowing the family to locate the telltale lump below. They even spotted animal tracks nearby, as if some other creature had checked in on Rudolph.

"I didn't want to bother anyone. I don't think anyone would care," said Duke. But then her six-year-old son Sebastian encouraged her to share the story on neighbourhood Facebook sites, which have seen activity grow since COVID-19.

Suggestionsbegan pouringin, including usinga fishing pole to hook the stuffie, or scooping it up with along-handled pool strainer.Still others looped in the National Capital Commission (NCC), pleading for a rescue mission.

The NCC promised its skateway crews would keep an eye out, and that they did. An alert worker found the lost fawn, crusted over with ice and snow but otherwise no worse for wear.

Duke showed Nico the picture the NCC posted of the rescued Rudolphthawing out.

"Utter disbelief. He stared. It took awhile to click. He's like, 'Wait, that's mine?' He was just in shock, and then he wasreally excited."

On Thursday, one week after Rudolph's adventures began, the family went to pick the toyup from the skatewayoperations centre at Fifth Avenue. A joyful reunion ensued.

Meanwhile, the story has given some reason for optimism in these difficult times.

"This stuffed baby deer isn't the only thing melting ... so is my cold cold heart," tweeted Monica Ward, who spotted the rescue story on social media.

For Duke, it's reaffirmed her faith in the power of community.

"You just have to just have to ask. People do care. Assuming that they don't is something that adults do," she observed. "[My kids] aregrowing up knowing that other people have our backs and other people care, and that's really heartwarming."