For the second year in a row the lower Sunshine Coast’s two Polar Bear Dip events have been cancelled.
As 2021 began, there was only one person who braved the chilly waters of Davis Bay on New Years Day, after the Sunshine Coast Lions Club cancelled their event because of the pandemic.
Although the club considered hosting the event to ring in 2022, it was ultimately cancelled by organizers because of concerns surrounding the Omicron variant. Previously, the 2020 plunge had seen the most swimmers in the event’s 28 years with 115 partaking.
A New Year’s dip is also usually held at Armours Beach in Gibsons, with the Gibsons Marine Rescue Society and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM SAR) Station 14 volunteers on standby.
Organizers decided not to host the event this year, as it would be difficult to socially distance and masks can’t be worn in the water.
“We want people to have a happy, safe holiday season. We don't want it to be something that doesn't have a pleasant memory for them,” David Croal told Coast Reporter.
In an email, Croal said they hope to host the community event again in the future.
