1st babies of 2026 at Brantford, Hamilton and Niagara hospitals born to first-time parents

Trish Abello and Logan Rathbone are still “soaking up” the excitement of a new addition to their family — baby Meadow, born at 1:44 a.m. on New Year’s Day, almost two weeks early. 

She’s “our New Year’s miracle for 2026,” Rathbone says of their five-pound-three-ounce bundle of joy.

The Hamilton couple spoke with CBC News on Sunday.

“We’re at home now, which feels amazing. Definitely, as first-time parents, the days have blended together, the nights feel longer but we’re soaking it up and the newborn bliss is in full effect here,” Abello said.

“We’re just grateful for how this year started.”

Abello said the name Meadow had been on their short list for almost the entire pregnancy.

“We just like the name [but] wanted to wait till we actually met her to make the final decision,” she said, adding that “once we saw her, we knew that was the name.”

Rathbone said “as a first time father, the baby brain has kicked into full gear, but the cuteness factor is helping to overcome that.”

“We feel very blessed,” he said.

‘It’s awesome’: Dad from Six Nations of the Grand River

First-time parents Ellaya General and Rory Thomas, of Six Nations of the Grand River, say their baby was due on Christmas Eve.

But Georgia Marie Ella Thomas had other plans.

“I honestly thought I was going to have a Christmas baby,” a beaming Thomas told CBC Hamilton on Sunday.

“After the 24th passed, we were just honestly hoping for a New Year’s baby.

“That was pretty cool, honestly. It’s awesome,” Thomas said of Georgia being the first baby born in 2026 at Brantford General Hospital. 

Thomas said Georgia was named after her mother and grandmothers.

“Georgia is [Ellaya’s] middle name, and then Marie is my mother’s middle name, and then Ella is [Ellaya’s] mother’s middle name,” he said.

Hospital spokesperson Michael Marini said Georgia was born at 9:08 a.m. on Jan. 1, weighing nine pounds and three ounces.

“She came to ring in the new year … and is a healthy, happy baby. Mom and dad are proud parents soaking up their newborn,” said Marini.

Baby Rory rings in the new year at Niagara Health

For Rachel McColeman and her partner Robert, it’s all about the three Rs now, according to Niagara Health.

The couple welcomed their baby boy, Rory, on Jan. 1, making him the first baby born at the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines in 2026.

Rory was due Dec. 31 but arrived at 3:26 a.m. on New Year’s Day, weighing eight pounds and 15 ounces.

“We joked a lot about him being the New Year’s baby and then it was, ‘there’s no way,’” McColeman said. 

“At 3:30 in the morning, we didn’t think it was us, and [the nurses] said, ‘Nope, you’re it.’ We didn’t expect it by any means.”

The first-time parents, who moved to Port Colborne in November, arrived at the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines on Rory’s due date, anticipating that might be his fate.

However, as McColeman prepared to be induced, her water broke, and Rory arrived on his terms “with eyes wide open and arms going crazy.”

“We joked he was a kickboxer inside,” McColeman said. “We’re going to have a little boxer on our hands.”