Alberta’s first babies (and puppies) of 2026 have arrived

Baby Theodore was born on 12:03 a.m. on New Year's Day in Calgary. (Source: Sara and Sebastian Stewart)

It was a happy new year and a happy birthday for two of the province’s first babies of 2026.

Alberta’s New Year’s babies were born at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton and South Health Campus in Calgary, both at 12:03 a.m.

Sara and Sebastian Stewart welcomed their baby boy, Theodore, in Calgary.

Stephanie Fernandez and Elriek Obligar welcomed their son, Keirle Stefen, at the same time in Edmonton.

“We offer our congratulations to all those families who welcome new additions on the first day of 2026 and welcome these brand-new Albertans to the world,” read a media release from Alberta Health Services.

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Alberta’s New Year’s puppies

While there isn’t any official data for the first puppy born in the province, Westlock County’s Tessa Demski thinks her dog’s newest additions could be contenders.

Juno the husky gave birth to eight healthy puppies Thursday morning around 3:13 a.m.

Demski said her and children began making preparations early on New Year’s Eve, including setting Juno up in her cozy whelping box.

“Her demeanor kind of changed in those last few hours. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is definitely happening,’” she said in an interview Thursday.

She and one of her older kids pulled an all-nighter to keep an eye on Juno and her babies until around 7 a.m. – meaning the family started off the new year pretty tired.

It was also both Demski and Juno’s first time handling a dog birth. Juno’s pregnancy was unplanned, as the family lives on a property Demski describes as the “middle of nowhere.”

“One of the neighbour’s dogs came over to our house. We’ve been here for 10 years. This has never happened with any of our other dogs,” she said.

“That dog that came over traveled four miles to get here.”

But first-time mom Juno is doing very well, Demski says.

“She’s cautious but sweet and just figuring out to be a new mom,” she added.

Because the pregnancy was unexpected, she said she isn’t sure what to do with some of Alberta’s first puppies of the new year. She suspects she’ll be putting an ad up for adoption online in the coming weeks.