Canada's largest Polar Bear Dip raises nearly $150,000 for clean water

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Highlights:

  • This years event raised nearly $150,000
  • More than 800 participants
More than 800 dippers celebrated the first day of "Canada 150" at the Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision in Oakville, ON. Photo/World Vision
(January 01, 2017)
Today more than 800 enthusiastic dippers of all ages braved freezing temperatures to celebrate the first day of "Canada 150" at the 32nd annual Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision. To start the New Year on the right foot, participants joined dip founders, Todd and Trent Courage at Coronation Park in Oakville to plunge into frigid Lake Ontario as thousands of spectators cheered them on from the shore. The atmosphere was fun and festive with live music and a sea of people wearing red & white and classic Canadian costumes including "Gord Downie" & "Yukon Cornelius", to mark Canada's birthday. This year's event raised nearly $150,000 in support of World Vision's clean water projects in Africa, bringing the lifetime total the event has raised to well over $1.5 million. 
 
WHAT CANADIANS CAN DO:
Canadians that couldn't participate in the Dip can still make a donation
 
MORE INFO:
Social media: @PolarBearDip; #PolarBearDip   
 
QUOTES
"This was the perfect way to bring in the New Year. What can be more Canadian than jumping into a freezing lake for a good cause? I'm feeling like a frozen ice cube of adrenaline, but it's all worth it because it means clean water for children in Africa. That's what kept me feeling warm as I took the polar plunge."
-First-time dipper Eric Frans, Vice-President, Vision Partners, World Vision Canada 
 
"We've been doing this for 32 years but I don't think I've ever been more proud to be Canadian. Being out there on the first day of Canada's 150th anniversary year with all those Canadians decked out in our country's colours was an unforgettable moment. But they're doing so much more than diving into a freezing cold lake. It's what they've done beforehand, raising money so kids in four communities in Africa can have clean water to drink. That's what keeps us going. We're going to keep doing this until we're a hundred and fifty!"
-Todd & Trent Courage, co-founders, Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision. 
 
QUICK FACTS
  • The Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vison is the largest charity dip in Canada 
  • Todd and Trent Courage founded the Courage Polar Bear Dip as teenagers, 32-years ago 
  • The Dip has now raised more than $1.5 million for vital World Vision clean water projects. This year funds raised will go towards water projects in Rwanda, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania.