Our Stories

The oral histories that you will hear deal with personal, sensitive, and upsetting situations. Every attempt was made to be respectful of those brave enough to share their lives with you. Please take the time to honor their courage.

Featuring the powerful personal stories of survivors of eugenics and newgenics, these video narratives cross between eugenics past and present; all videos are closed captioned.

Nelson, Ken and Nelson, Crystal

Ken Nelson was admitted to the Provincial Training School of Alberta (Michener Centre) at the age of 8 when his placement with an adoptive family fell through. Ken felt the loss of his adoptive family deeply. While at the Provincial Training School Ken was sterilized, like many people, without his consent. Ken remembers clearly both his sterilization and how difficult it was to grow up in an institution.

After leaving the institution, Ken met and married a woman who had a daughter, Crystal. Ken feels great pride around his role as a father, and recognizes that he was very fortunate that he found family and fatherhood in spite of being sterilized under the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta.

-Nicola Fairbrother