Thousands brave the cold for annual polar bear swims

LOWER MAINLAND (NEWS 1130) – Thousands of people across the Lower Mainland braved the cold and participated in the annual tradition of the polar bear swim.

English Bay hosted its 99th polar bear swim on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. In Mission, people went for a dip at 10:30 at Hayward Lake. People also headed to Rocky Point Boat Launch in Port Moody for the Penguin Plunge.

In Delta, the 39th annual polar bear swim took place on the shores of Centennial Beach. And finally, there was also a new year swim at Panorama Park in Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

RELATED: More than a thousand people take the plunge in Vancouver’s polar bear swim

Some disappointed swimmers though as there was no White Rock swim, the annual event was cancelled after the pier was damaged in a windstorm last month.

“You know for some people, Halloween or Easter might be their thing, but for others, it’s the Polar Bear swim. They’re gearing up for this all year round,” says Sean Healy with the Vancouver Park Board.

He says the swim has become a tradition for many.

“I just got an email yesterday from a fellow who’s been doing it with his family for 45 years.”

WATCH: The 2015 polar bear swim at English Bay

 

 

The event will also benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, it will be accepting donations of non-perishable food or cash.

The first polar bear swim in English Bay took place in 1920, where only 10 people participated, but the event has grown significantly since then, with a record 2,550 people participating in 2014.

-With files from Jim Bennie

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