Travelling through thick ice fog is never ideal, but it was what the Wipf family had to endure to welcome their fifth child. 

Wanda and Samuel Wipf embraced Zachary Don at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4th, to the world. The birth was the first of the year at Selkirk Regional Health Centre in Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Zachary clocked in at 6 lbs, 11 oz and is 21.5" long. 

"He's the smallest one yet," says Wanda, comparing him to his siblings Noah, 9; Logan, 7; Lindsay, 6; and Jackson, 3. 

Zachary will be welcomed with open arms by his brothers and sister, who are at home with their grandma at Broad Valley Colony.

Dr. Margaret Speer attended the birth. This was Wanda's fourth birth at Selkirk Regional Health Centre, where she says she has always been treated very good.

The couple says everyone is accommodating, and they have always been welcomed at the health centre.

PortageOnline reached out to Southern Health-Santé Sud for Portage's first birth. However, we were told although a New Year's baby was born at the Portage District General Hospital, the parents wanted to keep the announcement private.