When the New Year’s celebrating is done you can always clear your head with a dip in the bracing waters of Georgia Strait.
Polar Bear swims are planned for Parksville Beach on the mid-Island and Armours Beach, Seafarer’s Park in Pender Harbour and at Davis Bay on the Sunshine Coast.
The Davis Bay swim is organized by the Lions Club, and usually attracts the biggest crowd. Lions president Len Schollen says he’s never taken the plunge himself, but he has some advice for swimmers.
Schollen says if the weather’s good they expect to have more the 80 people turn up. Around 200 turned out for Nanaimo’s Boxing Day Polar Bear swim at Departure Bay Beach.