The Dionne quintuplets—Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie—were born on May 28, 1934, near Callander, Ontario, Canada. They were the first known set of quintuplets to survive infancy, and their story became a global phenomenon during the Great Depression, filled with both fame and exploitation.
The quintuplets were born to Elzire and Oliva Dionne, a poor French-Canadian farming couple. Their premature birth (two months early) and survival stunned the world. At birth, the five girls weighed a combined total of just over 13 pounds (6 kg). They were delivered in a modest farmhouse without electricity or running water.
In the midst of the Great Depression, their survival captured worldwide attention, offering a beacon of hope. News outlets, photographers, and even movie studios flocked to the remote farm.
Fearing exploitation by private promoters (including an offer to display them at the Chicago World’s Fair), the Ontario government intervened. In 1935, they were made wards of the Crown until age 18, effectively removing them from their parents’ care.
A specially built hospital and nursery, dubbed “Quintland,” was constructed across the road from their family home. Here, under the care of the attending physician, Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the girls were put on daily public display. Millions of tourists from around the globe visited to watch them play behind a one-way screen.
Their images were used to endorse numerous products, from corn syrup to typewriters, and dolls resembling them outsold Shirley Temple dolls. They even starred in three Hollywood films. While the province profited immensely, the girls' own trust fund grew, though they had no control over it.
In 1943, after a lengthy legal battle, their father regained custody, and the quintuplets moved back with their family. However, this transition was far from ideal. The surviving sisters later alleged physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents, and described being treated as a “five-part unit” rather than individuals.
Upon turning 18 in 1952, the sisters largely distanced themselves from their parents. Émilie entered a convent and tragically died at age 20 in 1954 from an epileptic seizure; Marie died in 1970 from a blood clot in her brain at age 35; Yvonne passed away from cancer in 2001 at age 67; Annette and Cécile married and had children.
In the late 1990s, the three surviving sisters (Annette, Cécile, and Yvonne) revealed their struggles and launched a campaign for the Ontario government to address the mismanagement of their trust fund and their exploitation. In 1998, they received a $4 million compensation settlement from the Ontario government, along with an apology.
As of 2025, Annette and Cécile Dionne are still living and celebrated their 91st birthday on May 28th. Their birth home in North Bay, Ontario, has been preserved as a museum, serving as a reminder of their unique and often tragic story, and highlighting important issues related to children’s rights.
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