Formal Inquiry into Psychiatric Abuse
Demand A Public Inquiry into The Allan Memorial Experiments
I am the adult child of a former patient of Montreal’s Allan Memorial Institute. Like many families, we were told very little at the time. Mental illness carried shame, and silence felt safer.
Decades later, Canadians learned that unethical experiments had occurred at the Allan Memorial. Only 77 people were formally acknowledged through an ex gratia process in the 1990s. What remains poorly understood is that thousands of people passed through the Institute during those years. Most were not experimented on as bad as the Montreal Experiments Class Action case requires to qualify — and that distinction matters as much as identifying those who were.
Today, families fall into three groups: the 77 whose cases were acknowledged; a second, largely invisible group — possibly hundreds, perhaps as many as 5,000 — who may have been affected but never came forward, lacked records, or died before understanding what happened; and a much larger group of families whose parents were treated but not knowing to what extent. They live with permanent uncertainty because no authoritative public accounting ever defined where the boundaries lay.
Courts can decide claims. They cannot answer the questions families carry. Many of us, the children of Allan Memorial patients, are now in our seventies or older. Time is no longer abstract.
The absence of a full public accounting has allowed speculation to replace fact. Silence itself has become a harm. A public inquiry would not relitigate the past, but establish a shared historical record — distinguishing treatment from experimentation, fact from rumor, and truth from silence.
For families like mine, this is not a legal wish. It is a human one.
Sincerely,
A Child of an Allan Memorial Patient
Hans Dybka
1. Purpose
We are collecting 500+ handwritten signatures to present to Members of Parliament. Every signature is a step toward justice.
2. Where to Collect Signatures
Public parks
Busy street corners
Farmer’s markets
Transit stations
Community meetings / local events
Outside libraries, universities, or places of worship (with permission if needed)
3. Things to Say
“Hi, we’re collecting signatures for an official petition to our MPs calling for justice for victims of psychiatric abuse. Would you like to support this effort by signing? It only takes a moment.”
4. Rules & Tips
Sign only once (duplicates may be removed).
Only Canadian residents may sign official parliamentary petitions.
Do not pressure anyone — participation must be voluntary.
Stay respectful and polite, even if someone declines.
Keep petitions clean, legible, and organized.
5. After Collection
Review forms to ensure all signatures are complete.
Return completed sheets to the campaign lead.
All petition forms will be mailed to Hans Dybka for submission.
Hans Dybka
355 Strathmore
Dorval, Quebec
H9S 2J6
6. Contact
If you need more forms or have questions, contact:
Hans Dybka
514 923 1555
Demand A Public Inquiry into The Allan Memorial Experiments
