It's a boy!
Squamish Hospital’s first baby of 2018 is Wells Hunt, born on New Year's Day at 12:50 a.m. weighing 6.85 lbs. according to a spokesperson for Vancouver Coastal Health.
He is also the first baby of the year in the entire Coastal Health region.
Wells is the second child for Michelle and Jeff Hunt of Whistler and little brother to the couple's three-year-old son, Wesley, who just happened to be born in the exact same Squamish Hospital room as his younger brother.
Michelle’s water broke at 6 a.m. Dec. 31 and so the couple headed down to Squamish. Thankfully, the sun was out and the roads were clear, Jeff said.
After meeting with the doctor at the hospital, they checked in to the Sandman Hotel & Suites while they waited for Michelle’s contractions to increase.
At about 6 p.m. it was time to head back to the hospital.
"One of our more entertaining New Year's," Jeff said. "It was pretty funny. Everyone was really just enjoying the whole [event]."
Jeff said they were thrilled at the care mom and baby received at Squamish Hospital.
"This is our second time having a baby here, one of the most nerve-wracking things you could ever experience as a human being, and honestly the people here are just second to none," he said. "It was a beautiful thing.”
Wells takes after Michelle's mom in being a New Year's baby. His grandma was the first baby of the year when she was born in 1955 in Fontainebleau, France.
"It is pretty cool," Jeff said.
Back in the day
Linda Brownfield was the first baby of the year born at Squamish Hospital in 1974.
Four decades ago, far fewer people lived in the Sea to Sky Corridor so, though she was the first baby of the new year, she didn’t arrive until Jan. 3.
It was a big deal.
“Back in that day you were somewhat of a celebrity in Squamish, being the New Year's Baby,” Brownfield told The Chief on Monday after hearing the news of Wells' birth.
“The Squamish Times did a three-page spread on me — front page and the two middle pages — to list all the gifts I received from local businesses.”
A follow-up story was also done on Brownfield’s first birthday a year later.
Being so close to Christmas, Brownfield said her mom always made sure that she didn't lose out on having a birthday.
“She did say it was always stressful planning Christmas then trying to plan birthday parties and sleepovers so soon,” Brownfield added.
