Hundreds of new parents across the country are on edge wondering what's happened to the precious first photos of their babies.
A photography company that operates in dozens of Canadian hospitals appears to have gone out of business, leaving families searching for their special memories.
That's why Tara Kliewer's baby book remains unfinished.
Her son Jake had his first professional photos taken at Royal Columbian Hospital last month, when he was just three days old. But the company that took them "Our 365" still hasn't delivered.
The payment was made, but the order never showed up.
"We started phoning the company ringing and ringing,'' she said.
Kliewer is not alone. A Surrey family is also waiting for pictures, taken at Surrey Memorial Hospital by the same company.
"It's frustrating beyond words," said Stacey Grenier.
CTV News tried calling "our 365" -- which is based in Woodbridge, Ont., but could only get an answering machine. The message said the line is temporarily suspended, try later.
CTV News finally got through to an operator, connected to the company's U.S. counterpart.
But an operator at the U.S. firm said there is no longer any connection between the two companies.
That means new parents like Tara Kliewer are facing a dilemma.
"I could contact Visa and get my money back, but as soon as I do that, I no longer have claim to my pictures,'' she said. "I want my pictures."
That's where Just Arrived Baby Photography is stepping in.
The Vancouver studio got involved after hearing "Our 365" had gone bankrupt, a move that left thousands of parents that paid for pictures in the lurch.
"It's national, you're talking hundreds of hospitals, literally thousands of parents that paid for these pictures,'' said Jason Jaspar, the vice-president of operations for Just Arrived Baby Photography.
Just Arrived is getting approval from the hospitals to track down the digital files and film, and develop the prints at no extra charge.
Now Tara Kliewer is hoping she'll have her photos soon. But she still wonders what happened with "Our 365"
"Why would they take pictures knowing full well that their company was going out of business?'' she wonders. "Companies just don't go out of business overnight."
She doesn't have the answer yet. But least there's now a good chance she'll finally finish Jake's book.
Contact details for Just Arrived Baby Photography
E-mail: info@justarrived.ca
Phone: 604 736 1212
TollFree: 1 877 222 9306
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
