The parents of Saddle Lake’s newest children gathered at the Saddle Lake Cultural Centre on Jan. 29 to celebrate the babies that joined the community in 2013.
This year’s celebration was Saddle Lake’s fourth annual, and featured food, door prizes, and photo opportunities for the parents of the children born in 2013 and those born so far, in 2014. Members of Alberta Health Services paid a visit in the morning to give presentations on baby safety, with a focus on child seats and motor safety.
The event also featured a baby crawl competition, where the babies were allowed to scurry about, and a ceremony to honour baby Freedom Quinney-Favel who passed away last year, along with the other departed, with a symbolic balloon release.
“There were about 90 kids born in 2013,” said Theresa Cardinal, office manager with the Saddle Lake Health Centre.
“There are about 25 kids and their parents here already, and there will be more coming in later, as the day goes on,” added Cardinal.
Crandall Houle and Rosie Cryer-Houle, parents of Sadie Houle, who was born in 2013, both agreed that the event was special.
“We never saw anything like this before,” said Crandall. “There should have been more people coming, because it’s worth coming out and meeting the other parents.”
“It’s great,” said Rosie. “It’s an interesting time, meeting the other parents and seeing their kids, and it’s well organized. Like he said, I didn’t know they did this, I haven’t heard of this before.”
“It’s our first time celebrating out here. It’s fun, and it’s something nice, seeing all these other parents here, with their babies,” said Miranda Steinhauer, mother of little Haley Steinhauer.
Claire Whitford, a staff member with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) explained that CPNP was part of the event last year, and believed there were more babies this year than last.
“We definitely saw a bigger crowd show up this year. Family support for the babies and their parents is great. People are showing a lot of support.”
Whitford added, “Even if they live far away, we’re seeing a lot of extended family coming here, to join us.”
One family in attendance had four generations present on Wednesday. Sadie Houle was joined by her great grandmother Annie Cryer, grandmother Florence Cryer, and Mother Rosie Cryer-Houle.
“It was a good turnout, and we had a great opportunity to honour the babies born in 2013,” said Laura Makokis, a nurse with the CPNP.
Makokis added, “This is the fourth one we’ve done on an annual basis . . . We want to show that we can celebrate life in the community too, by bringing a new light in, and celebrating birth, and people creating life.”
