Men switched at birth 70 years ago receive apology from Canadian government
Every parent's nightmare -- at least in the back of their minds -- is the idea of their children being switched at birth due to an unfortunate error or negligence.
While rare, it has happened more often than it should, and it was much more prevalent in 20th century.
According to the New York Post, two Canadian men who were switched at birth some 70 years ago are just now receiving an apology from the Canadian government for the terrible mix-up.
Richard Beauvais and Eddy Ambrose, 68, were born on the same day at a hospital in Arborg, Manitoba in 1955. Due to an egregious error made by the hospital at the time, the two men were taken home by each others' biological parents.
They obviously had no idea that was the case until a DNA test taken by one of the men in 2020 raised questions regarding his heritage.
Two men swapped at birth – one Indigenous, one white – finally get apology.
Richard Beauvais and Eddy Ambrose lived out each other’s lives, the third known such mistake in Manitoba. Now the premier is reversing a decision to deny responsibility.
— Arlene Christie (@HighwayOfTearz) March 21, 2024
The way it unfolded is an insane story in itself.
The Post noted:
Beauvais, who grew up in Sechelt, British Columbia, believed he was an indigenous person for his entire life. In 2020, he took a DNA test that revealed he was actually a mix of Ukrainian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Polish.
By chance, Eddy Ambrose’s sister Evelyn Stocki took a DNA test in Winnipeg, Manitoba — nearly 1,500 miles away from Beauvais’ home, shockingly revealing that Beauvais was her biological brother.
A story recounting how the two men eventually met involved a little humor alongside the sorrow that came with the story. Beauvais made the in initial phone call to Ambrose.
"Is this Eddy Ambrose?" Beauvais started the call, according to the outlet. "I don’t think you remember me, but we met a very long time ago. It was 1955 and we were side by side on the bed."
Manitoba’s Premier Wab Kinew made a formal apology to the two men and their families in a recent session.
"I rise today to deliver an apology that has been a long time coming, for actions that harmed two children, two sets of parents and two families across many generations," Kinew said.
He added, "We are sometimes asked to understand empathy and compassion by considering what it is like to walk a mile in another person’s shoes."
This is the third known incident out of Manitoba alone.