Polar Bear Swim – January 1, 2024

Thanks for celebrating the new year with us at English Bay for the 104th Vancouver Polar Bear Swim. We look forward to seeing you again in 2025.

Get your swim gear ready for a frosty plunge.

How to participate in the swim

On January 1, 2024, join your fellow polar bears at English Bay for the annual cold dip and receive a button.
Share your video and photo online with #VanPolarBearSwim
Register to receive a commemorative certificate

History of the Polar Bear Swim

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers to the new record of 2,550 official entries set in 2014.

When Peter Pantages was not able to swim in the ocean he found other ways to make sure that he had a cool ‘dip’, everyday. He even had an agreement with the Pacific Steamship Company, when he was traveling on an ocean liner, for the ship to stop everyday so he could take a dip. When it was unsafe he would draw a salted chilled bath instead.

Find out the number of swimmers and water temperature each year since 1976.