Thompson, Man., puts out teddy bears for Hunter Smith-Straight

People in Thompson, Man., are placing teddy bears on their front stoops in memory of a three-year-old boy who died Sunday, after he was stabbed multiple times while he slept last week.

Thompson residentGina Spenceposted a photo of a teddy bear on her porch, saying it would be there until Hunter Smith-Straight is laid to rest, on a community-based Facebook group.

Because Thompson is 650 kilometres northof Winnipeg, Spence couldn't attend the vigil for Hunter held in the city Sunday night. Placing the teddy bear outside was her way of showing support for the family,she saidMonday morning.

"When the Humboldtcrash happened, we put out ourhockey sticks," Spence said."It's something to show on my front porch.Somebodyisgoing to drive by and say, 'Why is there ateddy bear out?' and they'regoing toask questions."

Being the mother of a two-year-old boy herself, Spence said Hunter's death hits her "right in the heart."

"I can't imagine what this family is going through right now," she said."To have a child lost so early in his age, it's just heartbreaking."

Other Thompson residentsquicklyfollowed Spence's lead.

About two dozen people have placed some sort of toy on their porch, she said, and peoplewho don't have teddy bears on hand are putting out any stuffed animals they can; oneparent put out a toy car.

"It's a tragic incident that happened, andI think that a lot of Thompson people if we were all in Winnipeg we would probably be at the vigil last night too," Spence said.

Mary Azure-Laubmann of theKeewatin Tribal Council believes so too, and is organizing a vigil in the northern community later this week.

"It's not a surprise a lot of us have been impacted," shesaid. "We truly needed a place to gather, and let the family know we're thinking of them."

The vigil was originally organized for noon Monday, but Azure-Laubmann said it's too cold to have it outside. Now she's looking for a place to hostthevigil indoors.

Azure-Laubmann hopes to hold the vigil Thursday.