Thursday January 2, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
The first baby of 2025 born in Island Health arrived at 12:07 am on Wednesday January 1 at Victoria General Hospital.
Baby boy Zion Ebo Zormelo-Kika weighed in at 8 lb 3 oz.
The name Zion was first given to a baby boy in BC in 2008, and since then has been given 227 times (2008 to 2024). | See summary of 21st-Century Baby Name Trends in BC
Across BC the first newborn of 2025 arrived at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops at 12:02 am. Baby boy Emerson weighed 7 lb 10 oz.
The name Emerson has been given to a boy in BC 395 times starting in 1992. The name Emerson has been given to a girl in BC 237 times starting in the year 2000. | See summary of 21st-Century Baby Name Trends in BC
In the Fraser Health region, the first baby was delivered at 12:07 am at New Westminster’s Royal Columbian Hospital. Baby boy weighted 7 lb 1 oz, with a name yet to be announced.
Population trends:
The number of births in BC has steadily declined since 2017. This could be seen as a reflection of economic challenges (i.e. rising cost of living), further exacerbated by the lingering social and economic impacts of the COVID pandemic.
Births in the Province of British Columbia, Canada [2017-2024]
| Year | Births in BC |
| 2024 | 38,103 (to Dec 16, 2024) |
| 2023 | 41,403 |
| 2022 | 41,833 |
| 2021 | 42,783 |
| 2020 | 42,413 |
| 2019 | 43,878 |
| 2018 | 44,050 |
| 2017 | 45,045 |
| Source: Vital Statistics BC | Table by: Island Social Trends (Dec 31, 2024) |
Government has said in recent years that natural replacement of the population is expected to reach net zero by 2030 and the overall population is aging. Immigration of new residents is a government policy to help support the economy.
Meanwhile, in-migration to BC has been on the upswing. In 2021 to 2024 the total population in BC has been rapidly increasing. About 250,000 arrived in just 2021 and 2022 combined.
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===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends is a professional news service that covers news of the west shore, south Vancouver Island, BC and national issues.
Island Social Trends launched entirely online at islandsocialtrends.ca in mid-2020, in the footsteps of its predecessor print publications MapleLine Magazine (2008-2010), Sooke Voice News (2011-2013) and West Shore Voice News (2014-2020). The new Island Social Trends print edition launched in 2024.
Editor and publisher: Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | ARCHIVES: HEALTH | VANCOUVER ISLAND
Island Social Trends posts daily on X @IslandSocTrends for a regional, BC and national audience.