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 hardy 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 in that year to the new record of 2,550 official entries set in 2014.
Join the 2019 Polar Bear Swim Club
Jump into 2019! Take an invigorating dip in English Bay for Vancouver's annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim! Join thousands of hardy "polar bears" in this free Vancouver tradition.
Whether it's your 57th time participating or you're getting this off your bucket list, join us at English Bay on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at 2:30pm.
- Dress-up in fancy costume
- Compete in the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race
- Come out to watch and delight in the spectacle!
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will be accepting donations of non-perishable food or cash - please be generous!
Register to participate
Download the form PDF file (4.6 MB)
Bring the application form with you to the Polar Bear Swim to register. You will also be entered to win prizes!
Buy merchandise
We have a limited supply of Polar Bear Swim shirts available.
If you did not receive your swim button on New Year's Day, or would like to purchase a shirt, they are available at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre.
| Item | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirt | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Sweatshirt | $30.00 | $30.00 |
Share your photos and you could win
Tag #VanPolarBearSwim on Instagram and Twitter.
You'll also be entered for a chance to win one of two prize packages that include a limited edition 2019 Polar Bear Swim toque and one-month Flexipass to use at any Park Board fitness centre, pool, and rink.
Swim tips
- If you have a heart problem - just watch!
- Children must swim and stay with an adult.
- Please leave your dog at home.
- Do not drink - alcohol does not warm you up - it accelerates hypothermia.
- Do not stay in the water longer than 15 minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in water than in air.
- Do not remove your clothing until swim time. The swim will be started by a flag and siren.
- Entrants in the 100 yard race - meet in the front line on the north side (Stanley Park side) of the enclosure.
- First 3 swimmers to touch the marker buoy by the lifeguard boat - give your names to the lifeguard.
- After you swim, pick up your commemorative button at the large polar bear or at the registration table.
- Warm up with coffee or hot chocolate.
2018 prize recipients
- Chris Ratzlaff, Vancouver
- Stephanie Schmitz, Vancouver
- Jose Duarte, Vancouver
- Victor Ngo, Vancouver
- Pierce Anderson, Burnaby
- David Varty, Vancouver
- Alberto Montang, Vancouver
- Josh Wakelin, Abbotsford
- Grant Fitzpatrick, Vancouver
- Cameron Funnell, Vancouver
- Miguel Rodriguez, Mexico
- Bradley Inokai, Sydney
- Kieran Allen, Port Coquitlam
- Mya Major, Abbotsford
- Zuzana Benkova, Vancouver
- Stephen Burgoyne Coulson, Vancouver
- Stephanie McLean, Vancouver
- Shannon Waters, Vancouver
- Sonya Schmitz, Surrey
- Michael Bertling, Burnaby
2018 prize donors
A big thank you to the following donors:
- Aquabus
- Bloedel Conservatory
- Cactus Club
- Jack 96.9/Sportsnet 650
- Native Shoes
- The Boathouse (Kitsilano)
- Vancouver Park Board
- VanDusen Gardens
Contact for the Polar Bear Swim
Did we beat a record?
Polar bear swim statistics
The Vancouver polar bear swim in English Bay in Vancouver is one of the oldest in the world. Find out the number of swimmers and water temperature each since 1976.
