Meet Ireland, your 2026 Champion Child

First infant in Manitoba to have cochlear implant surgery will represent all kids who need province’s only children’s hospital

Winnipeg, MB (March 3, 2026) – Friends and family cheered on Manitoba’s 2026 Champion Child as she was announced today by Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba – a meaningful moment because it’s a miracle she could hear them. Ireland Gault, a kind, active and energetic 8-year-old Métis girl was the first infant in our province to have cochlear implant surgery.

In March of 2017 Ireland was born a happy and healthy baby to excited parents, Courtney and Will Gault. As part of Manitoba’s universal newborn hearing screening program, her hearing was tested before leaving the hospital. Ireland failed the test in one ear and additional testing revealed that Ireland had profound hearing loss in both ears.

Ireland’s parents worried about her development but thanks to her medical team at HSC Children’s Hospital, at ten months old she had bilateral cochlear implant surgery. The implants allowed her to develop speech and language skills alongside her peers and each day Ireland gets to enjoy the gifts of the sounds around her like music, laughter, and her parents saying, “I love you.”

“We’re grateful that she was able to receive this miraculous surgery in such a warm and welcoming environment,” says Ireland’s dad Will.

Now Ireland is proud of what she calls her “ears” and is using her voice to help others. She loves gymnastics, singing, birds, and being a caring big sister to her younger sister Taylor.

Ireland’s successful surgery has made it possible for children just like her to receive cochlear implants before their first birthdays.

“She’s our little trailblazer for cochlear implants,” says Ireland’s mom Courtney. “We’re so proud of her.”

Since Ireland’s procedure in 2018, doctors at HSC Children’s have performed cochlear implant surgery for more than 80 children with 12 procedures done before the child turned one. Previously, kids would have the surgery around 18 months.

“Our current treatment timeline for children identified with deafness at birth is to have them all implanted well before their first birthday,” says Dr. Darren Leitao, pediatric otolaryngologist. “This is thanks to the work we have done exploring safety and benefits of the technology, and the motivation and commitment of Ireland’s family to support her hearing and listening journey in the best way possible. Starting with Ireland, we give children almost double the head start of listening and language at very critical times in brain development.”

Ireland’s parents are deeply grateful for experts in child health research who work to support new technology, equipment, and treatments for kids.

“We’re so incredibly thankful for the research that’s done. It has changed our daughter’s life. This is the miracle surgery that’s giving her the quality of life that we dreamed for her,” says Courtney.

Being a Champion Child means that Ireland and her family join a group of ambassadors from across North America that support their local children’s hospitals. The Champion program is part of Canada’s Children’s Hospitals Foundations (CCHF) and the Children’s Miracle Network in Canada and the U.S.  They will attend several events this year to share her story and raise funds for HSC Children’s Hospital. 

“We are so excited to welcome Ireland to represent the 140,000 kids who need HSC Children’s Hospital each year and countless more who benefit from the work at Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba,” says Stefano Grande, President & CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “Ireland and her family are already making an impact, sharing their story to raise funds and awareness for Manitoba’s only children’s hospital and child health research.”

Ireland’s family has celebrated her hearing anniversary every year with a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba run through her Dad Will’s business, Willy Dogs.

Watch Ireland’s story at goodbear.ca/Ireland.