Richmond Hospital welcomed its first baby of 2023, born late in the afternoon on New Year's day.
Ashley and Mandeep Athwal had their first baby girl at Richmond Hospital on Jan. 1, 2023.
Mandeep described the moment he held Madison for the first time as "magical."
Madison Athwal was born at 4:59 p.m. and weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz.
"She came like a breath of fresh air with all her fingers and toes, beautiful and symmetrical," said Mandeep, who is a first-time father.
"2022 wasn't a great year in general and 2023 just started with a blessing and a sense of peace."
While many soon-to-be families would host a gender reveal party prior to the birth, the Athwal family did it the traditional way and waited for the big moment in the delivery room.
"We didn't know we were going to have a boy or girl. No reveals and none of that," Mandeep explained.
"But we did decide on a boy and girl name beforehand."
His wife, Ashley, and their daughter are expected to return home in the next couple of days
B.C.'s first baby of the year is also a baby girl and was born at 12:02 a.m. at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
