The following is a letter written by Annette and Cécile Dionne and provided by family spokesman Carlo Tarini. The sisters are not granting interviews at this time as Cécile Dionne is currently hospitalized following a fall causing broken ribs and Annette's doctor has requested she remain quiet because of high blood pressure issues. They both are expected to fully recover shortly.
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On this breezy April day, we feel great warmth and are immensely grateful to Mayor Al MacDonald and to the citizens of North Bay for their decision taken last night to ensure the survival of our birth home and Museum in this wonderful city and country.
We hope that the survival of the Dionne Museum in North Bay will give meaning and courage to all those who have been saddled with some type of abuse during their childhood.
At age 82 when we reflect on childhood, we know that childhood is the first precious coin stolen from a child. All of us are products of our childhood.
When we will return for the unveiling in a new location of our old log cabin birth home, now a museum, we will know that it wasn't the old home we missed but our childhood.
If you think about it, childhood is the most valuable thing that's taken away from you.
The fundamental condition of our childhood was powerlessness, but today we feel very empowered thanks to the hard work of our friends Carlo Tarini, Jeff Fournier, Miles Peters, Chris Mayne and young Kassidy Allard the 10-year-old North Bay girl who spoke out to ensure the survival of our Birth home and Museum.
These are only a few names of the exceptional people who gave their time and energy.
We sincerely hope to meet and thank them when our health allows us to visit North Bay again.
What we have learned through our childhood is that most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Much as those good people who fought in an old log house in 1934 to ensure the survival of the first five identical babies born in the world alive.
On the eve of Canada's 150th birth anniversary celebrations on July 1st. we recognize that our childhood although mired by dire circumstances was after all very much like Canada's own birth. Back then Ottawa was the site which witnessed the miracle birth of a new country as the ceremonies were initiated in the new capital, a logging operation along the Ottawa River which took the name of the River as its own much as North Bay takes its name from its position on the north shore of Lake Nipissing.
The location was a compromise choice which signaled a new beginning for Canada. Here then is the new beginning of the Dionne Museum and its place in Canada's history.
Finally, to all Canadians, especially seniors who extended their best wishes and support to us over the past few months: Thank you. When something feels right, hold on to it.
Annette and Cécile Dionne
April 5, 2017
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Meanwhile, the New York Times featured another story on the battle to save the Quints home.
See: House where Dionne quintuplets were born will stay in North Bay
