The very first birth at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre since the area was evacuated due to the wildfire brings a sense of hope and new beginnings. The boy was born to Melissa Taylor and Steven Mercer on June 17, 2016 at 5:02 am, and he weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces. Big sister Abigail waited for mom and dad to bring her new baby brother home after he was born. According to Melissa giving birth anywhere else was not an option that she would consider, saying “It was the deciding factor for us to come home, knowing that the hospital was back up and running. I didn’t want to have my baby anywhere else.” It was not until June 1 that residents were even allowed to return, and the re-entry was phased to minimize confusion. Core services were starting to be restored at the hospital by June 13 and expects full services to be offered very shortly.

A Northern Lights Regional Health Centre news release by senior operating director David Matear addressed the first birth at the hospital since the evacuation. According to Matear “We are so thrilled to see the NLRHC returning to normal service and we’re all so excited to mark this special birth. We are here to make sure that the residents of Fort McMurray are taken care of as they return home and start to rebuild following this natural disaster.” Alberta Health Services has also given the all clear so that residents with health issues can return home safely.