Polar swim – 2015

People enjoy dipping in the cold water on New Year's Day. Photo by Gerry Kahrmann/The Province

People enjoy dipping in the cold water on New Year’s Day.
Photo by Gerry Kahrmann/The Province

The Polar Bear Swim – 2015
Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul

The Polar Bear Swim is a tradition.
It happens every year
on New Year’s Day.
Some people dress in costumes.
Others wear bathing suits or shorts.
Brave people jump
into the ice-cold water.
They scream.
They laugh.
They have fun.

This new year, many international visitors
braved the cold waters.
Douglas Souza, 21,
travelled from Brazil to Vancouver
to spend the holidays.
His friends in Brazil called him “crazy”.
“In Brazil it’s so warm, nothing like this,” he said.
“But I like this experience. It’s new.”

This year was Vancouver’s 95th
Polar Bear Swim.
There are Polar Swims
in many places in B.C.
For example, White Rock, Port Moody, North Vancouver,
Bowen Island and Kelowna,
also enjoy this tradition.

How will you ring in the New Year … next year?