Aurore Gagnon

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Aurore Gagnon (May 31, 1909 - February 12, 1920), was a victim of child abuse. She died at the hands of her abusive step-mother, Marie-Anne Houde, and her father Télesphore Gagnon. Her biological mother, Marie-Anne Caron, was being treated in a hospital for tuberculosis until her death in 1918.

[edit] Chronology of Events

In 1916, Marie-Anne Houde arrived in the Gagnon household to help Télesphore while his wife was in the hospital. On November 6, 1917, Aurore's younger brother named Joseph Gagnon died at the age of two under mysterious circumstances. The following January, Marie-Anne Caron's illness took her life. Only one week after the death of his wife, Télesphore Gagnon married Marie-Anne Houde. In September and October of 1919, Aurore spent time at the "Hôtel-Dieu de Québec" because of an injury to her foot that would not heal. She later died in February of 1920. For her role in her step-daughter's death, Marie-Anne Houde received a death sentence, but this was reduced to a term of life because of public pressure. Aurore's father received a life sentence but was released after only 5 years for good behaviour.

[edit] Media

Aurore's death and the subsequent trials of her father and step-mother attracted much public attention in Quebec and the rest of Canada. This led to numerous adaptations of the story. Already in 1921 there is a production in Montreal outlining Aurore's tragic life. In the following years numerous books are published retelling her story. Moreover two movies are created: "La petite Aurore l'enfant martyr" by Jean-Yves Bigras was released in 1952. More recently in 2005 the movie by Luc Dionne simple titled "Aurore" was created.