It’s a boy: Vancouver Island’s first baby of 2023 born in Nanaimo

It's a boy: Vancouver Island's first baby of 2023 born in Nanaimo
Photo credit: Taylor Grant
Shaun Alexander Grant, born at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, is Vancouver Island's first baby of 2023.

Vancouver Island’s first baby of the year was born early Sunday at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and it’s a boy, according to Island Health.

At 12:15 a.m., parents Taylor and Emma Grant rang in 2023 by welcoming their first child Shaun Alexander Grant, who weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. at birth.

“We’re super excited,” Taylor told CHEK News.

“We knew it was coming close to midnight and we weren’t sure if (he was going to be the first baby born on the Island this year). It’s kind of a nice cherry on top of the whole thing.”

The couple, originally from Guelph, Ont., moved to Nanaimo in August and have nothing but positive things to say about the staff at the hospital.

“They’ve been awesome. They’ve been really great. Super friendly, super professional. We’ve been really happy with everyone here,” said Taylor.

Shaun and mom Emma plan to spend the remainder of New Year’s Day taking it easy, with dad adding: “They’re just resting.”

“Emma’s feeding him, and they’re both just sleeping a lot today. They both did great, she did amazing. She impressed everybody. It started and was over with really, really fast,” said Taylor.

Across British Columbia, meanwhile, the very first baby of the year was a girl, Gabriella Louise V. Camayang, born at 12:02 a.m. at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, weighing 5 lbs. 5 oz., Fraser Health said in a tweet.

In 2022, B.C.’s first baby of the year was born in Victoria.

Ethan MorneauEthan Morneau

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