TORONTO (CP) - It was to be a day commemorating the 10th birthday of a bright and loving child, but instead of birthday cards and candles the home of slain schoolgirl Cecilia Zhang was turned Tuesday into a shrine honouring her memory.

As Peel Regional and Toronto police continued their search for whoever murdered the gifted Grade 4 student, dozens of media were invited into the two-storey home of her parents Raymond Zhang and Sherry Xu for a brief tour before a private memorial was held by friends and family.

Throughout the home - the last place Cecilia was seen alive before being snatched from her top-floor bedroom last October - store-bought and homemade condolence cards adorned the walls, candles burned and in the living room there were pictures of a smiling Cecilia at various stages of her life.

One card for Cecilia's parents read: "From Ivy, Cecilia's friend from grade three. I'm sorry."

Jack Jia, a family friend, said the tours were held to give insight into the kind of child Cecilia was and how she lived. Jia also said her parents were proud of their only daughter.

"We really want to give the public who we are dealing with, who is Cecilia, what she's doing and what is in her heart," Jia said.

As reporters were escorted into the home 10 at a time, Cecilia's father emerged briefly to read a list of his daughter's wishes from a sheet of paper.

"The wishes stated below are some wishes I have chosen," Zhang recited in a quiet voice while trying to hold back tears.

I "wish that I have all the animals in the world to be my friends and all of my friends could visit them."

Cecilia also wished that animals did not have to be killed for food and that there were no more wars, Zhang continued while standing underneath a light rain.

Media have bombarded the girl's North York neighbourhood since forensic testing identified human remains found in a wooded area in Mississauga west of Toronto on Saturday as those of the missing girl.

Ontario's education minister said he would ask the principal of Cecilia's school if the province's help is needed as children try to deal with the loss of their schoolmate.

"If there's anything that needs to be done beyond what the board resources have been - this has been a protracted trauma for those children, staff and the families involved - we'll certainly explore that with them," Gerard Kennedy said at the Ontario legislature.

"I think the main thing that we're going to try to do is not add to any burdens the school has."

A book of condolences was on display and grief counsellors spent a second day at the school, trying to help students and teachers cope.

A special gathering at the school to mark Cecilia's birthday was called off.

People in the neighbourhood were still turning out to place flowers on the front lawn of the home.

Annie Chu, 21, came by with her little sister to pay tribute to Cecilia. Both wanted to mark her birthday by bringing flowers on behalf of their family and they also have a lot of questions about her death.

"Why would they do this?" said Chu. "We just want to know why, who, what's the motive? Stuff like that. There's just no answers. It's just so sad."

By late Tuesday afternoon, police wrapped up their search in Mississauga for clues they hoped might identify her killer or killers.

Police would say little about the status of the investigation, only that they would stop at nothing to find the killer or killers. They also wouldn't offer any theories about why the little girl was snatched from the safety of her bed and slain.

Peel Regional police also set up a telephone hotline Tuesday to accept calls from anyone who may have information that would help the investigation.

Norm Gardner, former Toronto police services board chairman, was among those visiting Cecilia's home to offer his condolences to the family. He said he wanted to let Cecilia's parents know that he is among the many people outraged by the little girl's death.

"I am one of the vast members of the community that feel for them," he said.

From a police perspective, Gardner said he hoped an international co-operation in law enforcement would allow police to catch the people responsible.

"It is not going to be an easy task, it's going to be a daunting task," he said.