Hundreds of Canadians plunge into 2013 with an icy dip into Lake Ontario

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-1-2 12:56:00

 About 500 Canadians braved the below freezing temperatures and plunged right into the New Year with an icy dip into Lake Ontario here Tuesday.

With the mercury standing at -5 degrees Celsius in downtown Toronto, and lower in the water, the hardy Canadians of all ages stripped down to their bikinis and swimming trunks and dove into Lake Ontario at noon sharp.

The participants took a quick plunge for the 8th annual Polar Bear Dip, an event designed to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for Toronto families in need.

Habitat for Humanity CEO Neil Hetherington said there's one thing that keeps bringing people back year after year.

"It's absolutely frigid when we get into the water, but they're doing it because they care about the community so much," he said. "They care about Habitat for Humanity, these are all willing volunteers who are just saying, 'I want to usher in the New Year by doing good.'"

They have raised over 130,000 Canadian dollars (131,665 US dollars) since the first Toronto Polar Bear Dip, and are expecting to raise more than 30,000 Canadian dollars (30,384 US dollars) this year alone.

Some participants barely made it as they backed out before jumping, while others like Shaman Clews, who has done it for the second time now, couldn't get enough of it. He said it's not as bad as most people thought.

"I would say it's 'burny', but not really painful. It's sharp, tingling pain," he said. "And then it gets all numb and you can sort of swim around, have fun, splash around."

Another participant, Joanna Kalbarczyke, said the toughest part wasn't the dip itself.

"The worst part is actually waiting in the snow," she said. "But once you get in and you stop feeling the cold, it just gives you a nice start to the year."

While it's a great cause, for many, it's also a new and exciting way to kickstart the New Year.

"Just for a change and to try something different and be able to challenge myself and see what's possible," Kalbarczyke said.

Similar events are held across the country. One of the oldest and most established Polar Bear Dips has been taking place on Canada's west coast at Vancouver's English Bay since 1920.


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