Miracle on Nairn Avenue: Santa statue restored after being destroyed by neighbourhood Grinch

A Santa statue housed on an Elmwood porch was the target of a brazen attack. Daniel Halmarson explains.

Some may say it’s a late Christmas miracle, but an Elmwood couple credits the community for the return of their beloved Santa Claus statue.

Richard Holm and his wife Nicole Abbott have kept the statue of Ol’ Saint Nick in their front yard on Nairn Avenue every day for the past three years – adorning him in various outfits and colours for each holiday that comes around.

But Santa’s spirit-lifting was abruptly grounded Sunday afternoon when an unknown person entered Holm’s yard and attacked the statue.

“I was relaxing on the couch and I heard some yelling. I wasn’t too sure what it was, and then I heard some banging,” Holm previously told CTV News. “So I looked outside and I saw the individual beating up Santa pretty good.”

Holm said he originally hoped to restore Santa in all his glory in the spring, however, a community member helped speed things up.

“One of our Facebook followers donated this Santa to us,” Holm said. “Now he’s back up in less than a week.

“It’s an amazing story,” Holm continued. “People were so upset about this, and now we’ve got him back up to put smiles on the face of the Winnipeggers, and I am utterly surprised and thankful for the community of Winnipeg.”

Now that he’s back at his post, Holm said Santa will continue spreading cheer to all during every season – not just Christmas.

“We’re doing Valentine’s Day right now,” he said. “Easter will be next, followed by Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, grad, and then we’ll continue on. And of course, the Winnipeg Jets White Out playoffs in April. We will have him dressed in white.”

- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson