The Northern Ontario home where the Dionne quintuplets were born is facing an uncertain future, but some are rallying to save it as a reminder of a troubled moment in Canada’s modern history.
The Dionne quintuplets were in many ways early reality stars -- drawing massive crowds to their house and attention from Hollywood royalty from the moment they were born at the height of the Great Depression in 1934.
The quint phenomenon grew into Canada’s biggest tourist attraction and a $500 million asset to the province during a severe economic slump.
“During their peak years, there were several million people from all around the world that came to visit them in North Bay,” said family friend Carlo Tarini.
The five children were made wards of the Ontario Crown shortly after they were born and housed in a compound fitted with one-way viewing windows, and a playground designed as a public observation area.
In March 1998, the Ontario government announced that it would pay the three surviving quints $4 million in compensation for the nine years they spent on display at a tourist theme park.
The City of North Bay purchased the home in 1985, before moving the structure into town. It was originally located in the rural village of Corbeil, Ont. before it was first moved in the 1960s.
The Dionne Quints Museum was operated in the home by the local chamber of commerce for three decades as a not-for-profit before closing its doors last year.
Now, efforts are underway to assess if the valuable property under the historic building could be put to better use.
“It was deemed surplus by council . . . and went out for sale in an RFP (request for proposal) process. That hasn't been completed yet. We're still waiting to hear the report back on the property,” Mayor Al McDonald told CTV Northern Ontario.
McDonald says details about any proposal won’t be known until the staff report is complete. The piece of land has been appraised at more than $900,000.
Resident Jeff Fournier wants to make sure the museum continues to tell the story that brought the North Bay region to the attention of the world all those decades ago.
“These girls went through enough. Let’s not forget it and let’s not dishonor them by just tearing it down,” he said.
Fournier is circulating a petition to ensure the building and its artifacts remain intact for future generations. While there are no specific plans to tear the structure down, he wants to make sure local politicians understand its significance before the idea is even considered.
Tarini said the home should stay as a reminder of what the Dionne sisters endured – five little girls who spent their childhoods away from their family, in the public eye like living dolls.
“Those that forget history are bound to repeat it,” said Tarini. “This is an important part of Canadian history.”
With a report from CTV’s Omar Sachedina
