9 photos of the Calgary Ice Breaker Polar Dip 2016 and dips around Canada

Many brave souls kicked off the new year on January 1 in a unique way by jumping into freezing water.

Participants jumped into a hole in the ice at the lake by the Elbow Valley Residents Club in SW Calgary, and had in-water helpers (in insulated suits) and shore support including emergency medical personnel. According to the site, Calgary raised $43,994.25 for Servants Anonymous Foundation through the Polar Dip 2016, just below their goal of $50,000.

Calgary was among many Canadian cities that participated in the Polar Dip 2016, including Vancouver, Toronto, and Herring Cove.

Here are some photos and videos of the Polar Dip 2016 around Canada:

Calgary

Roughly 100 people participated

Dipsters at Calgary Icebreakers Polar Dip raise funds for @ServantsAnon – @GlobalCalgary #Chilly pic.twitter.com/Vwwe4uoVwu

— Gary Bobrovitz (@garybtvnews) January 1, 2016

I hurt just watching this… Crazy kids #polardip A photo posted by Randy Niessen (@randynsn) on Jan 1, 2016 at 12:52pm PST

[youtube id=”4gkk0QrU7Jc”]

Vancouver

Thousands came out to do the plunge

Polar Bear dip complete! Happy New Year from #Vancouver! pic.twitter.com/rn58aDzb0P

— Alicia (@Taggio) January 1, 2016

 

POLAR BEAR SWIM today in Vancouver to ring in the new year!!! #Betheadventure #gopro #englishbay #polarbear A photo posted by Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla (@mikeescamilla) on Jan 1, 2016 at 3:51pm PST

Went to watch the #polarbearswim at #EnglishBay, but couldn’t spot any among the people 😆 🏊🏽☀️ #weamaze #westendyvr #newyearsday #vancouverbc

A video posted by Mary (@maryjulkowski) on Jan 1, 2016 at 6:48pm PST

Toronto

More than 400 participated

Polar Bear Dip? Yeti sighting? Done & donner! Eventful start to 2016! Thanks for your support of @worldvisioncan! pic.twitter.com/zdVQGbcesR — Jamie McIntosh (@JamieMcIntosh) January 1, 2016

 

Oakville

More than 800 participated

[Photos] 2016 Courage #PolarBearDip by @TPSGirlFriday posted Courage Polar Bear Dip facebook https://t.co/c35z3Q2ixh pic.twitter.com/IfbW5CxRIR — Polar Bear Dip (@PolarBearDip) January 2, 2016

Herring Cove

Approximately 130 people participated

Polar bear dip 2016 #crazygirl @stefffinanders #daughter #herringcove #NovaScotia pic.twitter.com/23kf8oXnvD

— Cindy Finanders (@Cindyfin64) January 1, 2016