Kira Spencer Sharma is the first baby born in Nanaimo this year, arriving on Jan 1, at 5:32 a.m. at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, with parents Ashish Sharma and Chaitanya Spencer. (Island Health)

By Jordan Davidson

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NANAIMO — The first baby born in Nanaimo in 2026 arrived in the early morning hours and was the second child for a local family, and also the second to be born on a significant day.

Kira Spencer Sharma was born at 5:32 a.m. on Jan. 1, weighing 6 lbs. and 13 oz., the first for Nanaimo this year.

Mother Chaitanya Spencer spoke with NanaimoNewsNOW Friday morning, shortly after she returned home from the hospital, and said it was a surprise for them, even with a due date of Dec. 30.

“Earlier that morning on New Year’s Eve, it was clear that labour was started, but I still expected it to go for a couple of days. We ended up at the hospital around 2:30 a.m., and at that point, I was still convinced there was no way she would be the first in Nanaimo. She was born at 5:30 a.m., and somehow was the first one. So a big surprise to us.”

While Kira was the first to be born in Nanaimo this year, the first baby born in B.C. happened in Kelowna shortly after midnight, while the first Island Health baby was born in Victoria just before 4:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

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Spencer said the hospital staff told them while she was in labour she was likely the first to give birth for the year locally, with at least one nurse sporting a New Year’s headband.

And while their youngest child will forever share their birthday with the start of a new year, their firstborn child, also born in Nanaimo, shares their birthday with Canada.

“Our first one was actually born on Canada Day in 2022. A little bit different, but funny that they both get holidays. But yea it was great, couldn’t have been happier, everyone was so, especially being New Year’s, everyone was in such a great mood and we had an amazing midwife, an amazing OB, and the nurses were all so wonderful.”

Spencer said Kira and their family are doing well, resting and recovering back at home.

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