He's made dollhouses for sick kids since the pandemic — even after his own cancer diagnosis

His white beard is a little shorter than Santa's, and he's missing the red suit and hat, but Vincent Giannotti's propensity for making toys and giving gifts bears a striking resemblance to that of Kris Kringle.

The 73-year-old's workshop, however, isn't in the North Pole — it's in the southwestern Ontario town of Tecumseh.

The retired plumber and project manager builds dollhouses and donates them to sick children.

He started this labour of love during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was forced to walk away from his day job after being diagnosed with prostate cancer that ended up metastasizing to his bones. 

"I was diligent in getting tested," he said.

"What happened was COVID hit all of a sudden, and you know the story. Everyone was panicking — doctors, hospitals. 'We can't see this and that.' I end up with prostate cancer — Stage 4, Gleason 9 [high on the system used to grade such cancer], which is not the best thing."

Giannotti said he built his first dollhouses for his granddaughters, neighbours and friends.

Nowadays, he picks his granddaughters' brains for design ideas for the houses, which he donates to charities for fundraisers and to local children facing health challenges.

"It takes my mind off of what I've got going on in my life," he said. "I love seeing these kids happy. It really is better to give than receive, as they say. It's really gratifying."

He estimates each miniature house takes 110 to 150 hours to complete and costs him around $150 in materials. Some are so intricate, they include features such as sinks, stoves, tubs and showers, Christmas lights and dressers with functional drawers.

Giannotti says he gets amazing reaction from the children who receive them.

"They forget about their sickness, and all of a sudden they're little girls again. My heart swells every time I see these kids or think about them."

Giannotti has made more than 30 of the elaborate wooden structures, which may also include spiral staircases and stained glass windows.

He has one ready to be delivered for the holidays — with another handful on the go.