HERRING COVE, N.S. – More than 150 people braved brisk winds and frigid water temperatures to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean near Halifax as part of an annual New Year’s Day polar bear dip.
People young and old donned bikinis and swimming trunks for a brief-but-bitter dip into the icy waters in Herring Cove at noon Sunday.
Rob MacLellan, organizer of the event, says about $5000 was raised for the foodbank Feed Nova Scotia.
MacLellan, who has participated in the last 14 of the dip’s 18-year history, compared the experience to being stabbed with thousands of cold knives.
He said the cold steel of the ladder pressing against his feet at the edge of the dock is nothing compared to the polar blast the Atlantic offers.
“You jump, and you hit the water… and then you come back out of the water and you feel great… and if you had a hangover, it’s gone,” the 54-year-old joked.
St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church pastor Zach Romanowsky said he felt refreshed after completing his second polar bear dip.
“It’s hard to describe. It’s like having ice cubes pressed on your body everywhere, and you want to get away from it,” said Romanowsky with a laugh.
Firefighters, police and emergency personnel were on hand to oversee the action and sent 20 people at a time to jump off the dock.
MacLellan said the weather was ideal, with the temperature hovering at about 1 C and the sun peeking through the clouds.
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“Any year you don’t have to break through ice is a good one,” said MacLellan.
He said the community spirit is what keeps him coming back every year.
“You’ve got all walks of life, and young and old, and professional and non professional, and everybody just comes together for this one event and that’s pretty special.”
After putting on some dry clothes, participants capped the event at St. Paul’s church hall discussing their chilly experience over hamburgers, hot dogs and Johnny Cash.
Last year, the dip drew more than 200 brave participants, raising about $5500 for Feed Nova Scotia.
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