B.C. Welcomes First Babies of 2026 Across the Province

The first babies of 2026 in British Columbia have arrived, marking a momentous occasion for families across the province. The first little resident, born at Kelowna General Hospital at 00:18 on January 1, weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz.. The identities of the parents remain confidential, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the B.C. Health Ministry.

In Richmond, the Vancouver Coastal Health region celebrated the birth of its first baby at 01:30 at Richmond General Hospital. Parents Haruna and Jian Suzuki expressed their joy, stating, “We feel very happy that we were able to make our special day even more memorable.” Their newborn weighed 7 lbs., 11.6 oz. and has yet to be named.

Multiple Births Mark New Beginnings

In northern B.C., a new sister was welcomed by four siblings when Baby Molina was born at 02:25 at Ksyen Regional Hospital in Terrace. She weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. and is the daughter of Chantal and Robert Molina.

Metro Vancouver’s first baby was a girl born at B.C. Women’s Hospital at 12:31, weighing 7 lbs., 4.2 oz. A spokesperson from the Provincial Services Health Authority, which includes this hospital, did not provide further details.

Meanwhile, Baby Beckett was born at 12:53 at Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge, marking the first birth in the Fraser Health region. He weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz.. On Vancouver Island, the first baby of 2026 was a boy born at Victoria General Hospital at 03:48, weighing 3 lbs., 1 oz., and is currently in the neonatal ICU.

The First Nations Health Authority, which serves Indigenous communities, does not operate hospitals but plays a vital role in pre- and postnatal maternity care.

Birth Statistics and Trends in B.C.

These births are part of an anticipated 41,000 deliveries expected in British Columbia this year. Data from the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency indicates that as of December 1, 39,072 live births were recorded in the first 11 months of 2025. This figure suggests that the total for 2025 will align with the average number recorded over the past 18 years.

The highest number of births in 2025 occurred in the Whalley area, with 1,144 births, while Vancouver’s West End recorded 283. Despite these numbers, B.C. continues to experience a declining birthrate, which was the lowest in Canada in 2023, recorded at 1.0 children per female.

This decline marks the twelfth instance in the past fifteen years that the birthrate has decreased. The trend began in 2008 during the global financial crisis and has continued, with the province experiencing negative natural population growth since 2021. The report from B.C. Statistics shows that the fertility rate in B.C. dropped from 1.08 in 2022 to 1.0 in 2023, reflecting a significant decrease of 7.4 percent.

As the number of deaths in the province has risen, exceeding births, the overall population growth faces challenges. This decline in fertility is not unique to B.C., as it reflects a national trend where 11 of 13 provinces and territories recorded their lowest fertility rates in 2023.

The arrival of these first babies serves as a reminder of the ongoing demographic changes in British Columbia and across Canada.