Thousands take part in Vancouver-born tradition of New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim

The annual Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver has become a beloved New Year’s Day tradition that has now spread across the world. The event, which was started by Vancouver restaurant owner Peter Pantages in 1920, continues to attract thousands of participants who don costumes and take a chilly plunge into the ocean to celebrate the start of a new year.

Peter Pantages, a Greek immigrant with a deep connection to the ocean, swam every day and decided to gather his friends for a dip on New Year’s Day in 1920. The event was sponsored by his restaurant, with swimmers receiving a free hot meal afterwards. Over the years, the swim grew in popularity, drawing attention from around the world and becoming a symbol of Vancouver’s unique spirit.

This year, the 105th annual Polar Bear Swim saw participants lining up at beaches across the city, ready to brave the cold waters. While the outdoor temperatures were around 7 C in Vancouver, other parts of British Columbia, like Ness Lake Bible Camp in Prince George, experienced temperatures as low as –15 C during their Polar Bear Dip. Despite the chilly conditions, nearly 180 people took part in the dip at Ness Lake Bible Camp, with attendees coming from as far away as London, England, and Mexico.

According to Dave Horton, the director of the bible camp, the Polar Bear Dip was about bringing people together for a shared experience, rather than individual achievement or social media fame. The event served as a way to combat the loneliness epidemic and foster a sense of community among participants.

The benefits of cold plunges have become more widely recognized in recent years, with Vancouver’s Polar Bear Swim becoming a bucket list item for people all over the world. Despite the lack of extreme cold, participants in Vancouver exude enthusiasm and joy as they take the plunge into the ocean.

The Polar Bear Swim has also become a popular social media fodder, with participants taking selfies and splashing water at each other in fun costumes. One participant, Zhidong Yu, even swam his 25th Polar Bear Swim at the age of 92, showcasing the enduring appeal of the tradition.

Events were held across Metro Vancouver to mark the Polar Bear Swim tradition, with English Bay attracting the largest crowds. While the official swim kicked off in the afternoon, others took their dip earlier in the day, ensuring that the spirit of the Polar Bear Swim was alive and well in Vancouver.