A central Alberta surrogacy company seems to have instantly closed, leaving households hoping to develop into dad and mom out tens of hundreds of {dollars} and compelled to search out different choices to develop their households.
The corporate is named JA Surrogacy on social media and to the handfuls of “intending dad and mom” who gave it their cash.
Amongst them have been Martyn and Kim Appel, who, after they “went down most likely each avenue” to develop into dad and mom, determined surrogacy was their most suitable choice.
The child could be biologically theirs and a surrogate would carry it to time period.
“Now we have … a number of clinics looking for some solutions, many IVF makes an attempt, even wanting into adoption, however it was by no means a assure, so surrogacy turned the one factor we determined to do to have a child of our personal,” stated Kim.
Story continues beneath commercial
They paid the corporate $20,000. final October to assist prepare the surrogacy.
Kim and Martyn Appel inform World Information they paid JA Surrogacy $20,000 final October to assist them have a baby by a surrogate mother or father.
World Information
JA Surrogacy is owned by a person recognized to World Information by a few of his shoppers as Phil Allen.
“We had a great feeling with them. The person who we met with was very, like, honest and empathetic to our story. It’s been a very long time, so she was very a lot wanting to assist. She had an excellent and fast match for us which acquired us to need to signal with them,” stated Kim.
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
The corporate paid all of the charges up entrance, however the association ultimately fell by due to some points with the surrogate mother or father, and the couple was again to sq. one with the corporate attempting to assist discover them a brand new surrogate.
“Our cash, so far as I do know, is just in JA’s account and never in a belief account as a result of they take into account themselves session charges. In Canada, you can’t be paid as an company to match folks, in order that they do the background work to attempt create totally different situations to get you to match with any person and to help the method for the surrogate alongside the best way,” added Kim.
Story continues beneath commercial
After checking in with the company just lately, Kim stated she wasn’t getting any solutions — so she contacted a few employees members she knew and was shocked when she was advised the corporate had ceased operations.
“I took to social media and I went into the neighborhood and was like, what’s going on — has anybody heard something? I discovered by social media that they ceased operations and it was the choice of the proprietor solely and that the employees have been terminated on the spot and primarily no JA company existed anymore.”
They’re nonetheless ready for any direct communication from Phil Allen, the person behind the corporate.
Nonetheless, one other European consumer shared a letter, from the proprietor’s electronic mail, that apologizes for the abrupt closure of what it stated was a numbered firm.
“It’s with deep remorse that we inform you that 2107677 Alberta Ltd, o/a JA Surrogacy Consulting will probably be ceasing operations efficient instantly. This resolution comes after a radical overview of the corporate’s 2025 fiscal year-end financials, which revealed the enterprise is not financially viable,” the e-mail reads partially.
“The corporate is presently over $150,000 in debt and has no remaining funds to maintain working.”
A current electronic mail that was despatched to a few in Europe that had employed JA Surrogacy to assist them discover a surrogate mother or father, stated the corporate had ceased operations for monetary causes.
Offered to World Information
The e-mail recommends that shoppers contact their authorized counsel and/or fertility clinics to debate their subsequent steps.
Story continues beneath commercial
“There may be not solely us on this state of affairs, there’s a number of shoppers and meant dad and mom that hoped and dreamed that this is able to be one thing someday that they may have occur,” stated Kim, struggling along with her feelings. “And the actions of 1 individual have doubtlessly ruined that for lots of us.”
World Information tried to contact JA Surrogacy by phone, however acquired a message saying the company’s quantity has been disconnected.
We tried to contact the proprietor by the corporate’s electronic mail handle, however acquired no response.
We even knocked on an Okotoks dwelling listed as the corporate’s handle, however the one that answered the door stated Allen doesn’t dwell there.
“At this level, we simply need out a reimbursement — we’re even keen to barter a good settlement for what we have now paid and signed in our contract,” stated Kim.
“Nevertheless it’s additionally an emotional impression as nicely that I believe goes to take much more time. With folks wanting a household, the older we get, the much less the dream turns into actuality.”
2:03
Surrogacy supply leaves Alberta household feeling like they weren’t dad and mom
© 2025 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
