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Home / The Midgets Palace of Montreal: Canadiana Series - Season 1

The Midgets Palace of Montreal: Canadiana Series - Season 1

Maple Leaf This item is only available for Canadian orders.
This title is a part of the series Canadiana Series - Season 1


Catalogue Number:  UPP006
Producer:  The Canadiana Project Inc.
Producing Agencies:  The Canadiana Project Inc.
Subject:  Canadian History, Canadian Social Studies, Canadian World Studies, History, Social Studies
Language:  English
Grade Level:  6 - 8, 9 - 12, Post Secondary
Country Of Origin:  Canada
Copyright Year:  2017
Running Time:  4:33
Closed Captions:  Yes


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Phillipe Nicol, born in 1881 with dwarfism, followed one of the few career paths open to him - appearing in a circus sideshow. He worked for P.T. Barnum, the King of “freak shows” and saved his money. He and his wife Rose then bought a house on Rue Rachel in Montreal, and turned their home into The Midget’s Palace, billing themselves as King and Queen of all the Midgets. All their furniture and appliances were scaled down to suit their needs and tourists flocked to visit. The project was intended to destigmatize people who were different as well as to provide themselves with a dignified income. Huguette Rioux who ran the palace as a museum after their deaths became the founder of The Little People’s Association of Canada, focussed on education. Born into a world where they were considered freaks, the Nicols turned the tables and achieved success. Today a condo has replaced the museum, but attitudes towards the marginalized are at least beginning to change.



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