There’s only one place left to ring in the new year with an icy plunge into Okanagan Lake.
The Summerland Kinsmen Club is holding its 36th annual polar bear dip on Jan. 1 at Sun Oka Beach in Trout Creek. Dippers are expected to get into the water at noon, sharp. Donations are welcome.
The Okanagan’s other two biggest polar bear dips have been felled by the latest surge of COVID-19 cases.
Peachland had previously announced that its annual swim wasn’t going to happen.
And on Thursday, Dec. 30, just two days before Jan. 1, the Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS) said it won’t be holding its annual fundraising event. CRIS runs its event in Kelowna, at Tugboat Beach.
“We want to prioritize the safety of our community, and, with rising rates of COVID-19 coming out of the holiday season, we feel this is the right decision at this time,” CRIS said in a statement.
CRIS said its event will take place in a virtual setting.
Those who want to participate can still do so by registering on the CRIS’ Trellis page. Participants are asked to make an icy dip, take a video of their challenge and submit it through social media. Prizes will be awarded.
Videos can be submitted through Facebook or Instagram and must have @crisadaptiveadventures tagged and use the hashtag #CRISPolarBearDip. Video submissions will be accepted until January 9th
The Okanagan isn’t the only area where traditional polar bear dips are cancelled for what’s the second year running.
Events in Vancouver, White Rock, Port Moody, Saanich were also cut due to COVID-19 concerns.