Stone Lion Brings Warmth to Forder Road

There’s a lion loose in Oakville. Granted, the lion is made of stone and probably not going anywhere, but it is still the King of the Jungle, looking over Forder Road.

Many wonder how the lion came to be, why it is there and why it’s so festively dressed on occasion.  The lion has been seen wearing anything from Cardinals gear, to a raincoat for April showers, to Rudolph antlers during Christmas.

The lion belongs to the DeLucia family, husband and wife Joseph and Dana and their five children. Their youngest son, 12-year-old Nicholas, is the primary caretaker of the lion, along with his father.

The DeLucias bought the lion two years ago when they moved into their house on Forder Road. The family has Italian roots, and the lion traditionally symbolizes a protector of the house.

When they got the stone fixture, right around Halloween, Nicholas decided to turn him into a mummy as a joke.

"Then we had to decorate him for Christmas and it just snowballed from there,” Dana said. “It makes people smile, and that’s why we do it.”

Forder is a busy road, with school and Metro buses, walkers and joggers. But passing by the DeLucias house might cause a slow-down or even a pause.

“One elderly man actually got out of his car and got his walker to come up and look at the lion,” Dana said. “Some people will stop in the middle of Forder and take photos.”

Nicholas and his friends, along with neighbors, brainstorm ideas for the lion's costumes.

For last year’s , the lion sported colors and a mohawk. He has also been seen as a scarecrow, beach bum, leprechaun and a tribute to veterans on Veterans Day.

The lion has become a favorite in the area, and the DeLucias have received several letters, including one in very young handwriting addressed to, “The Family of the Lion.”

“We just want to express our appreciation for the fun you give on our daily trips to school. We always look to see what the lion is wearing today,” another letter stated. “The Bible says a happy heart makes the face cheerful and you have cheered some gloomy days for us.”

However, not everyone appreciates the lion. On a few occasions, especially with Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day, people have taken trinkets that were used to decorate the lion.

“That’s the only time I’ve spent some money on the lion were those Mardi Gras beads, and they were taken,” Dana said.

The family finds decorations at Goodwill and the Dollar Store and decorates the lion together.

“When we’re decorating,” Nicholas said. “People come by and honk or give a thumbs-up.”

The family is planning something big for Christmas, and is considering a pirate costume next.

“I love it and as long as it brings joy, we’ll stay with it,” Dana said.