The Duplessis Orphans
The Story
During the reign of Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis in the 1940s and 1950s, an alarming number of healthy children living in sanctuaries were hastily diagnosed as mentally incompetent, psychotic patients. The diagnoses were always swift -- the children went to bed orphans and woke up psychiatric patients. The reason? Shrewd fiscal planning; federal subsidies paid out more to hospitals than to orphanages. Some children allegedly endured lobotomies, electroshock, straitjackets and abuse. For the rest of their lives they would struggle to bring attention to their story and demand compensation. They called themselves the Duplessis Orphans.
Were Duplessis Orphans subject to medical experimentation?
The Duplessis Orphans demand a further investigation into alleged medical experimentation.
Apology and amends at last for Duplessis Orphans
The Duplessis Orphans at long last accept an offer of compensation.
Duplessis Orphans heal through art
A Duplessis orphan and a five-year-old child form an unlikely partnership.
Duplessis Orphans continue their campaign
Sixty-three high-profile Canadians file a petition in support of the Duplessis Orphans.
‘The Mother’s Saint’: a drama about the Duplessis Orphans
A new drama about a Duplessis Orphan debuts.
Duplessis Orphans boycott the collection plate
When the church says it can only offer compassion, the Duplessis Orphans respond with a protest.
The church refutes charges by Duplessis Orphans
The Roman Catholic Church will not offer an apology or compensation for hundreds of orphans.
Duplessis Orphans reject modest offer and apology
Quebec ombudsman Daniel Jacoby calls premier Bouchard's reconciliation attempt "unfair and humiliating."
Bouchard’s offer to Duplessis Orphans
Quebec premier offers an apology and compensation to the Duplessis Orphans.
Duplessis Orphans challenge the church
The Duplessis Orphans publicly challenge the Catholic Church with their personal tales of physical and emotional abuse.
Duplessis Orphans protest past wrongs
Duplessis Orphans demand a public apology and prepare their class-action suit.
Religious orders reacts to reports of abuse by “Duplessis Orphans”
The religious orders respond to charges of abuse.
Quebec children deemed orphans reveal abuse
The Duplessis Orphans organize and protest some four decades after their release from psychiatric hospitals.