London, Ont. elf delivers Christmas spirit after finding lost Santa letter
What began with a little girl’s letter lost in the snow, has turned into a Christmas story to remember.
Eight-year-old Ruby Boulter, just like many children her age, wrote a letter to Santa Claus two weeks ago.
But where this letter has travelled and the seasonal magic it has spawned, is sure to put you in a festive mood.
The story starts two weeks ago on Wilson Avenue near Labatt Park. It was moments before London’s annual Santa Claus parade. Ruby and her friend had their Santa letters in hand, according to Ruby’s mother, Krista Hawthorn.
“They went running, and as we got to Dundas Street Ruby panicked because she could not find her letter for Santa.”
As they walked home, Ruby and her Mom looked for the letter, but could not find it.
A distraught Ruby feared Santa would never see her list.
But on Sunday afternoon, a stranger appeared at the door of the family’s home.Ruby Boulter's letter to Santa that was lost in the snow and returned to her two weeks later, Nov. 29, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
A sibling answered and Krista soon followed. She found a woman in the doorway saying, "‘I found this letter in the snow.’ She pulled it out and it was water-logged and tattered.”
You guessed it, it was Ruby’s letter. But the woman had more to say -- and it would leave Krista in shock.
Krista told the story to the family’s older children Sunday. However, she waited to tell Ruby the news until Monday.
She asked her daughter, “Do you remember losing this?”
And Ruby's face turned to wonder at the sight of her lost card.
But that’s not all the woman had for Ruby. You see, Santa’s latest helper had also read Ruby’s wish list, and decided to help him out.
In the end, if Ruby’s face doesn’t say it all, her words do. “That person must be very nice.”
And as Krista says, acts of kindness cannot go unrecognized.
“We’re just all so warm right now, and just know that the Christmas spirit is alive and well.”
And Ruby and Krista hope to do just that if Santa’s new helper sees this story.
Ruby says she'd just like to say, 'Thank you so much," if they ever met.
UPDATE: The family reached out to CTV News London to say they have now been in contact with the woman who brought the gifts, and she wishes to remain anonymous.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.