The annual tradition of the New Year’s Baby is always of interest to media and the public. It symbolizes the start of the new year and represents the first of the more than 43,000 babies that are expected to be born in British Columbia in 2014.
This is a special time for mother, baby and their loved ones - and we ask that media follow the following protocols:
Health authorities will be co-ordinating to determine the first birth in B.C. That information will be released at 8 a.m., Jan. 1 - through social media via the government Twitter account @BCGovNews
Once announced, media can contact the health authority, where the first baby of the new year is born, through the contact details below after 8 a.m. If you would like more information regarding the first baby born in your region, please contact your local health authority.
Please do not contact local maternity wards for birth information, as they need to spend their time caring for mothers and newborns. The local health authority will consider organizing a limited media availability for the mother and baby, with the family’s permission. Please respect the wishes of the family, as newly delivered moms and babies need their rest.
Event Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: B.C. government Twitter account @BCGovNews
Special Instructions: For your local health authority, please choose your contact from the list below.
Fraser Health
Contact:
Lisa Thibault
Media pager: 604 450-7881
Northern Health
Contact:
Jonathon Dyck
Media line: 1 877 961-7724
Interior Health
Contact:
For Jan. 1 only, please contact the Communications On Call number: 1 855 851-4195
For regular work days, please refer to the media contact information: http://www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/MediaCentre/Pages/MediaContact.aspx
Island Health
Contact:
Moira McLean
Media Pager: 250 389-7317
Provincial Health Services Authority
(BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre)
Contact:
Alyshia Higgins
Media Pager: 604 871-5699
Vancouver Coastal Health
Contact:
Trudi Beutel
Media Pager: 604 686-9983