Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

'Blessed': Port Coquitlam mayor departs Metro Vancouver meeting to attend second son's birth

Politics set aside — mayor has been on 'high alert' waiting for the birth of his son, Owen Conor West; now he and his family are preparing for the next exciting stage of their lives
Diane Strandberg
Diane Strandberg
IMG_9308
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West welcomed baby Owen Conor West on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.Submitted

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West had to put politics and city business aside Wednesday (May 26) after getting a long-hoped-for text from his wife, Blaire.

The news was something the couple had been waiting days for: a baby brother for older son, Liam, was on his way.

“I’ve been on high alert because she was due on May 21,” said West, who had been chairing the Metro Vancouver Mayor’s Committee meeting via Zoom at the mayor’s office when informed at 1:40 p.m. yesterday that Blaire was having contractions.

“I had to tell the other mayors that I had to leave abruptly because my wife was going into labour.”

After ensuring that son, Liam, was happy with his grandmother nearby in PoCo, West picked up his wife and headed to Royal Columbian Hospital, where Owen Conor West arrived at 5:20 p.m.

COUPLE FEELS 'BLESSED' 

At nine pounds, 11 ounces, Owen is a hefty second son for the couple, and represents a happy start to an exciting new journey.

The couple has been open about the heartbreak of pregnancy losses: Blaire suffered three miscarriages since Liam was born and West told Tri-City News he feels extremely “blessed” and “thankful to all the doctors and nurses who supported us.”

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, four-year-old Liam hasn’t met his brother at the hospital yet. However, the family has been FaceTiming and “he is already talking to his brother and asking mom and dad lots of questions about taking care of him,” West said.

Despite being on tenterhooks about a new baby on the way, West chaired the regular Port Coquitlam council meetings this week, where council discussed development, bear issues and other matters while the Metro Vancouver Mayor’s Meeting continued to discuss mental health concerns and climate change issues after West’s unscheduled departure.

The proud father has not been shy about his new baby’s birth, signalling to the community today via Facebook and Twitter the happy news.