The Invisible Hippo of Grief: An Adoption Story investigates the Canadian Baby Adoption Mandate (1945-1985) when over 400,000 newborns were placed into new families through closed adoption. Most “birth mothers” were aged 15 to 19, most lived in government-funded maternity homes run by religious orders where they were enculturated into silence and compliance. History reveals the babies were taken—there was no informed consent. The Canadian Baby Adoption Mandate directly involved at least 1.8 million Canadians—including infants, birth parents, and adoptive parents—yet the era remains largely a secret tidal wave of births, a missing chapter of Canadian history.

Running Time: 17 min, 30 sec

Premiere: COMING SOON

Written, Directed, Animated, and Edited by Donna Szoke

Additional Animation: Norma Rodriguez Arroyo, Tim Uniac

Sound Design and Composition: Michelle Irving

Created with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council. Thank you!!

Additional funding support from: Research Services, Humanities Research Institute, and the Dean of Humanities Office, Brock University.