Congratulations to Lisa and Brad Van Koughnett, from Fort St. James, on their first born child.

Baby boy, Leo Eldon Van Koughnett, is Vanderhoof’s 2016 New Year’s Baby, arriving on Jan. 1 at 8:09 p.m. and weighing seven pounds eight ounces.

Members of St. John Hospital Auxiliary Society welcomed the New Year’s baby with a gift basket, including a crib-size quilt donated by Nechako Quilters Guild, as well as locally purchased baby products and items for Lisa.

Due on Jan. 19, Leo arrived into the world early, Lisa said

“He’s the first baby and there’s lots to learn,” she said. “We’ll take it one at a time.”

Jan. 1 is also the birthday of Lisa’s maternal grandfather, Lisa added.

If Leo arrived a few hours later, he would have been born on the same day as Lisa’s paternal grandfather, on Jan. 2.

“We have lots of family and support in the area,” she said.

The first baby born in the Northern Health region in 2016 was delivered at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George at 1:25 a.m. on Jan. 1.

The first baby born in B.C. in 2016 is a boy delivered at Surrey Memorial Hospital at 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1 to a family from Fort Nelson.

– with files from the St. John Hospital Auxiliary Society and Northern Health