Toronto's annual polar bear swim cancels its major event, moves online

The Toronto Polar Bear Club‘s annual polar bear dip event is cancelled for 2021 due to the current pandemic.

This is only the second time that the event has been cancelled since its first dip in 2005.

The first cancellation was in 2018, because of, “unsafe ice conditions,” according to a spokesperson from Toronto Polar Bear Club.

This year, the challenge is being moved online, and participants are being asked on January 1, 2021 to post a video of their personal polar bear dip, tag @TOPolarBearClub on Twitter, and hashtag their post with #dip4boost.

“We’re really hoping to promote the #dip4boost challenge to raise money for Boost,” said the spokesperson. “Having people do their own dip, make a donation to boost, and challenging others to do the same.”

The annual event operates in support of Boost Child and Youth Advocacy Centre which works to prevent child abuse and violence through awareness and education. They respond to sexual offences, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and violence towards children and youth under 18 in Toronto, as well as offer a number of services including; primary prevention programs, public education, trauma assessment and therapy, and court preparation for child witnesses.