OAKVILLE, Ont. – Blustery winds and near-freezing temperatures didn’t stop hundreds of adventurous individuals from plunging into Lake Ontario for a New Year’s Day tradition.
About 750 people participated in the Courage Polar Bear Dip in Oakville, Ont., just west of Toronto on Wednesday.
Aiden Peel, who drove over 100 kilometres from Innisfil, Ont., to join the event, said it was his way to kick off the new year without a hangover.
This polar bear dip has been a staple in Oakville for 40 years and is one of many similar events across Canada that raise funds for charity.
The event welcomed participants of all ages. Among them was eight-year-old Evelyn Gray, who planned to take the icy plunge with her father.
“I’m very excited because I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said.
Michael Messenger, CEO of World Vision Canada, mentioned that the dip is expected to raise around $100,000, although final numbers won’t be available for “a couple of days.” He explained that the money will help provide clean water in Congo and Zambia this year.
<p Messenger, an Oakville resident himself, shared that he has participated in the dip for 17 years now.
“This is an incredibly meaningful event for me,” he said in an interview. “It’s a little bit crazy. (I’m) not a big fan of the cold water, but I am a big fan of the warm hearts of people here in Oakville.”
Meanwhile, across the country in Vancouver, hundreds gathered to dive into the Pacific Ocean at English Bay Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
The temperature was around 7 C when Vancouver’s official 105th annual polar bear swim started at noon. The event lasts about four hours and features a swimming race over more than 90 meters.
This report by The Canadian Press was first Jan. 1, 2025.
Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press
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