Christine Nayler had just four hours with her newborn daughter at a hospital north of Newmarket, Ont., in 1982, before she was forced to part ways with her baby.
As a 15-year-old mother-to-be living in Toronto, Nayler was sent to stay with relatives north of the city for the birth. She was expected to head back home without her child.
Despite being told repeatedly that she couldn’t keep the baby, Nayler held onto hope that her family might change their minds.
But they never did.
“I always say that the day that I left the hospital without her was my death day because I feel like I died that day,” said Nayler, who now resides in Barrie, Ont.
“When your child is alive and she’s just taken from you for no other reason than you’re young and you weren’t even given a chance to be a mother, like, that changes everything that you feel about the world.”
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Nayler is one of hundreds of thousands of unwed mothers coerced into giving up their children for adoption in post-Second World War Canada.
Years after surrendering her child, Nayler has initiated a petition urging the federal government to recognize its involvement and apologize for being part of this unjust system.
The petition has received over 600 signatures from across Canada and was presented in the House of Commons last week, prompting a 45-day timeframe for a written response from the government.
“I want the government to acknowledge the harm that was done to us and the role that they played in it,” she expressed.
The Office of the Minister of Jobs and Families addressed questions regarding the petition on Saturday by stating that they appreciate those who have shared their stories.
“Canadians have carried this history with them and the profound and lasting impacts that forced adoption practices have had on mothers, adoptees, and families,” it said in a written statement. The office added that they are committed to addressing this legacy.
“Canada recognizes that this was a systemic issue affecting people across the country. Important legal safeguards-including Charter protections and international human rights commitments-now help ensure such practices cannot occur today.”
Liberal MP Karina Gould along with Sen. Chantal Petitclerc also joined efforts calling on Ottawa for an official apology.
Diving into discussions at a press conference Tuesday in Ottawa, Gould emphasized raising awareness about an estimated 300,000 women who were compelled to give up their babies between the 1940s and 1970s.
“It’s about bringing closure and justice for these women and their children,” she stated.
Petitclerc introduced a motion in Senate on Tuesday remarking how institutions and public policies enabled these forced adoptions.
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The federal government alongside provincial governments as well as religious organizations worked systematically over decades separating unmarried women from their babies through adoptions according to Valerie Andrews-an advocate whose own child was taken away at birth.
An apology has only been formally issued so far by two institutions-the Catholic archdiocese of Vancouver and United Church of Canada-Andrews mentioned.
“It’s time for Ottawa to acknowledge ‘the illegal , unethical , and human rights abuses against unmarried mothers,’” she said.
“Women are getting older , they’re dying , they’re developing dementia , they (are) becoming disabled , and without hearing acknowledgment these atrocities happened.” She spoke regarding mothers who lost their kids.
An official apology would encourage others involved parties also admit wrongdoings says Andrews.
Other countries like Australia , Ireland , and Scotland have already made formal apologies.
At age 71, she earned her Ph D focusing solely on researching forced adoptions.
Eventually, she “White Unwed Mother: The Adoption Mandate in Postwar Canada” back in 2018.
“I wanted …to document facts academically so others could follow,” she remarked.
Andrews reunited with her son when he turned 32 spending six years together before he passed away due cancer.
The push towards holding federal authorities accountable isn’t new; as previously noted – Senate’s social affairs committee issued relevant reports back during2018.
The Canadian government responded accordingly within year acknowledging trauma & outlining legal protections preventing future occurrences.
Former senator Art Eggleton participated during investigations then explained importance reviving discourse both chambers providing closure inclusion services helping reunite families wishing meet loved ones.
Nayler reflects life changed entirely following removal firstborn child. She later wed father having three more children throughout years but separation pain remained constant dreaming praying daily reunion.
Soon enough prayers answered; when daughter reached age twenty-one reunion took place marked momentous occasion coffee shop meeting filled emotions.
I felt urge embrace yet apprehension lingered wanting avoid overwhelming!”she recalled initial interaction seeing grown-up daughter finally.
Both believe robbed over two decades emotional scars remain along trauma separation anxiety requiring adjustments knowing each other anew despite circumstances endured.
Nayler considers herself fortunate compared mothers unable see or hold babies even once sometimes passing away before reunification occurs.”
This report by The Canadian Press first appeared May31st2026.
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