The Birdman Show: The Ideal Maternity Home: Canada's Butter Box Baby Scandal

From the 1920s to the 1940s, the Ideal Maternity Home in Nova Scotia was a place of both hope and horror. Run by William and Lila Young, it served as a refuge for unwed mothers and a source for adoptions. But behind this virtuous facade lay a brutal system of profit and neglect. Babies destined for adoption were well cared for; those who weren't were often starved. When they died, they were discreetly buried in makeshift caskets—empty wooden butter boxes from the local dairy. Join us as we delve into the historical records, survivor accounts, and the eventual exposure of one of Canada's most disturbing social scandals.