Every single day without fail, a historic photo of Cornwall or a surrounding county is posted on my public Facebook page. However, on Saturday, April 14, no pictures were posted, only words.
On June 1, 2017, I submitted a petition to the Canadian government asking them to recognize April 14 of every year as Poor House Commemoration Day in Canada. I had 120 days to gather, at minimum, 500 signatures of support. In total, 648 signatures were received. On November 8, 2017, the petition was presented and tabled in the House of Commons by local MP Guy Lauzon. On January 29, 2018, I was informed of the governments response: “The Government of Canada does not have any current plans to officially designate the aforementioned date [as Poor House Commemoration Day in Canada.]”
On April 14, I wanted to remember and celebrate each and every Canadian Citizen and Immigrant that lived or died in an Asylum, a House of Refuge facility, or a Poor House on Canadian soil. Many of these people were buried in unmarked graves, with no family living to surround them and celebrate their lives. Some of the female inmates were shunned by their families for being pregnant and unmarried. Many of these people were just too poor, and could not afford any means to get by. Many inmates were crippled, unable to work or fend for themselves, and some of them suffered from mental illnesses.
By April 14, 1937, Canadians and Immigrants who suffered from mental illnesses were entirely stripped of their property, managing their economic affairs, and their ability to reproduce. Not only had they lost their belongings, the right to own properties, but they were stripped of their right to have children. By April 14, they lost control of everything, including control over their own body.
On April 14, 1937, the “Act respecting the Mentally Incompetent Persons and their Estates” was passed in Alberta. This Act marked a growing intrusion of the state into the lives of those they deemed “mentally incompetent or unfit.” Canadian citizens in an asylum were no longer capable of managing their economic affairs. The government stripped these people of their own property. Nine years prior to this act, the government of Alberta stripped their citizens of the ability to reproduce. On March 21, 1928, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta passed the “Sexual Sterilization Act.” This legislation authorized sexual sterilization to individuals living in designated state institutions (Asylums) deemed to have “undesirable traits.” The impact of the Sexual Sterilization Act was substantial. Under this Act, over 4,800 people were sterilized. More than 2,800 persons were sterilized under its two amendments in 1937 and 1942.
Although you are reading this a few days after the fact, I hope you will take time to remember Canadian citizens that lived in Asylums, a Houses of Refuge, and Poor Houses. I remembered them, I know you will remember them, and one day, Canada will remember them too. Poor House Commemoration Day is not an official day in Canada… yet.
