BC Premier David Eby welcomes 'happy and healthy' daughter

British Columbia Premier David Eby's special pre-election countdown has ended with the announcement of the arrival of his newborn daughter on Thursday.

The premier says Gwendolyn Kay Eby was born happy and healthy at nine pounds six ounces.

He posted a photo with wife Dr. Cailey Lynch and baby Gwendolyn on social platform X, saying their third child's name comes from her great-grandmother, who he called a "longtime Victoria resident, born on the Prairies."

Welcome to the family new baby Gwendolyn Kay Eby! 9 lbs 6 oz. Everyone is happy and healthy. Gwen’s name comes from Great Grandma, long time Victoria resident, born on the prairies. Thanks to our obstetrics team, the great nursing and hospital staff for all your amazing work ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Cwcw9APXE8

— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) June 27, 2024

Eby thanked the obstetrics team, nursing and hospital staff involved in the birth of Gwen, who has a brother, Ezra, and sister, Iva.

The milestone comes after Eby started an early campaign last week ahead of the fall election, in order to spend time with his family around his daughter's birth.

At the campaign event last Thursday in Vancouver, he said Oct. 19 was BC's fixed election date, and June 27 would be reserved for his family's "fixed date baby."

Eby's early campaign start comes amid open battling between BC's two right-of-centre parties, Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon's BC United and John Rustad's upstart BC Conservatives.