Crowd packs English Bay for the 2015 Polar Bear Swim
Posted January 1, 2015 2:57 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – From Vikings to superheroes, thousands got dressed up and lined the shores of English Bay today for Vancouver’s annual polar bear swim.
Sean Healy with the Park Board says while many people make this an annual tradition, his favourite part is to see those out for the first time.
“Oh first timers… Well, certainly, there’s a big shock. Many people don’t appreciate how big the event is. We get 15,000 to 18,000 people down for the event. And the other shock, of course, is the temperature of the water. It’s chilly!”
Healy says the spectacle draws young and old together to ring in 2015. “This is a wonderful celebration of community. Everybody has their own special reasons. For some, it’s a new year’s resolution. For others, it’s an annual tradition. And yet, for others, it’s a dare or something fun to do on New Year’s.”
The English Bay polar bear swim is one of the largest in North America; everyone is encouraged to bring a non-perishable item for the Vancouver Food Bank.
