In the 1930s, the first set of quintuplets survived past birth. It happened on a quiet farm in northern Ontario but within days, the Dionne family had captured worldwide attention. To protect the children from being exploited, the Ontario government took custody of the girls, promising protection. But then, it started exploiting them, too.

In this episode of Living History, we’ll visit the Dionne family farmhouse, now relocated to North Bay, Ont. We’ll also meet a museum curator in the doctor’s former home and visit the mansion that was paid for with the eight-year-old girls’ money. Finally, we’ll talk about how things have changed, and how this could NEVER happen again in modern times. ...or could it?