The Martyrdom of Aurore Gagnon

In 1920, ten year old Aurore Gagnon, died after suffering from years of torture in the hands of her parents

Restoration of this photo, circa 1919, created by the author. For the first time in a century, we have an idea of what Aurore may have looked like in life.

Fortierville was a sparsely populated village in 1920, located just south of the St. Lawrence River, 60 miles from Quebec City. It was the type of place where everyone knew everybody. Though neighbors minded their own business, there were no secrets. The citizens were French-speaking Roman Catholics, and the Gagnon family was no exception.

Marie-Aurore-Lucienne Gagnon was the second child of farmer Télesphore Gagnon and his first wife, Marie-Anne Evelyn Caron. Those who knew the girl called her Aurore. Aurore was born May 31, 1909, in Sainte-Philomène-de-Fortierville, Quebec, Canada. Her sister, Marie-Jeanne, was just a year older. Télesphore made his living as a logger, farmer, and blacksmith.

A new baby arrived every few years in the Gagnon home. After Aurore’s arrival, three children followed; little Marie-Lucina in 1910, Georges-Étienne in 1911, and Joseph-Télesphore in 1915.

For a moment, life was almost idyllic for the family. The cemeteries were full of babies who succumbed to various diseases, and people had little or no access to health care. But the Gagnon children were healthy and robust. Télesphore and Marie-Anne had every…