Retired Maggie Mac Neil poses at home in London, Ont., with her 100-metre butterfly gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics. (Devin Heroux/CBC Sports)

China's international adoption program officially began on April 1, 1992, after the Adoption Law was enacted in December 1991. Influenced by the one-child policy and a cultural preference for sons, the program led to the adoption of over 8,000 children—mostly girls—by Canadian families. Adoptions were already happening in isolated cases before 1992. Notable adoptees like Olympic swimmer Maggie Mac Neil (born February 26, 2000, in Jiujiang, China) reflect the opportunities these adoptions offered. Yet, many adoptees faced complex ethical challenges, including cultural disconnection, racial isolation, and identity struggles. On September 5, 2024, China formally and permanently ended international adoptions for non-relatives.