Annette Dionne, the last surviving member of the Dionne quintuplets and a passionate advocate for children's rights, has passed away at the age of 91 on Christmas Eve. The Dionne Quints Home Museum in North Bay, Ontario, reported her death through a social media announcement but did not disclose additional details.
Annette was the only remaining sibling among the quintuplets, who gained international fame after their birth on May 28, 1934, in Corbeil, Ontario. The quintuplets—Annette, Emilie, Yvonne, Cecile, and Marie—made history as the first known quintuplets to survive infancy, leading to an overwhelming influx of public interest.
However, the fame that surrounded the Dionne quintuplets came at a significant cost. Shortly after their birth, during the Great Depression, the Ontario government took custody of the quintuplets from their parents, who had five other children. They were placed under the supervision of a board of guardians and displayed in a nursery-style exhibition called "Quintland," which drew millions of visitors eager to observe the quintuplets through one-way glass. This attraction became Canada's largest tourist draw at that time, generating approximately $500 million for the province.
The quintuplets became celebrities, attracting Hollywood's attention and resulting in endorsement deals from major companies, including Kellogg’s and Palmolive. Additionally, during World War II, five identical ships were named after them, further solidifying their symbolic significance in Canadian culture. Despite their fame, their mother, Oliva Dionne, struggled for years to regain custody of her daughters but was unsuccessful.
At the age of 18, the quintuplets made the decision to relocate to Montreal, seeking to escape the public eye and lead more private lives. Emilie was the first of the sisters to pass away in August 1954, followed by Marie in 1970. In a turn of events, Cecile, who passed away earlier this year, sought compensation from the Ontario government for the years they were kept on display. In 1998, the Ontario government issued a public apology and a settlement of $4 million to the surviving sisters for the emotional and psychological toll of their exhibition.
By 2001, Yvonne had also succumbed to cancer, leaving Annette as the final surviving quintuplet. In a 2019 interview with The Canadian Press, Annette emphasized the importance of protecting childhood and criticized the commercialization and exploitation of children for profit. Her advocacy work has centered around ensuring that stories like that of the Dionne quintuplets serve as a reminder to future generations about the need to protect the rights of children.
The Dionne Quints Home Museum, which was originally the family home, has since been relocated to North Bay, Ontario. This museum stands as a testament to the lives and legacy of the Dionne quintuplets, ensuring that their story is preserved for future generations. Annette’s commitment to maintaining the museum and its history was a reflection of her belief that children’s stories and their rights deserve to be honored and remembered.
Annette Dionne's passing marks the end of an era for the Dionne quintuplets, whose experiences brought light to the complex intersection of fame, childhood, and the responsibilities associated with being a public figure.
