If you’re looking to participate in a Polar Bear Swim that isn’t over at the 95th annual event in English Bay this year you can participate in the 45th annual White Rock Polar Bear Swim.
White Rock Pier Polar Bear Swim
Register for the White Rock Pier Polar Bear Swim starting at 10:00am on January 1, 2015 at White Rock beach (14790 Marine Drive) and plunge into Semiahmoo Bay to start your new year. Gathering by the legendary White Rock, just east of the White Rock Pier, the swim will begin at 12:00pm and participants are encouraged to dress in costume. The event will feature live music, coffee, hot chocolate, and food vendors for spectators and participants.
Follow Tourism White Rock on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the 45th annual White Rock Polar Bear Swim.
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim returns to English Bay for the 95th year on January 1, 2015.
It was in 1920 that Peter Pantages created the club and the brisk ocean dip has been a New Year’s tradition ever since. Peter’s family still carries on the tradition of the Polar Bear Swim Club today.
Around the 1950s, the participation was approximately 250 to 300 swimmers. Today, anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 swimmers participate (record to-date 2,550 in 2014) and 5,000 to 10,000 spectators come out to cheer them on.
Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
The swim generally takes place at 2:30pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim, and membership is free. Prizes are drawn from all registrations.
Register in front of the English Bay Bathhouse between 12:30pm and 2:30pm on January 1. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will be accepting donations of non-perishable food or cash. It is advised that you leave your dog at home, do not drink alcohol (it accelerates hypothermia), and do not stay in the water any longer than 15 minutes. More tips can be found on the Park Board website.
If you couldn’t get to one of Vancouver’s many holiday attractions before Christmas, fear not! Many are open this weekend and through to early January. Here’s a list of events and activities that you can enjoy over the next few days:
Photo credit: on Flickr
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Friday, December 26, 2014
Ellie King’s Sleeping Beauty, Surrey Arts Centre
CONTACT Winter Festival at BC Place
Vancouver TheatreSports Year in Review
Surrey’s Winter Ice Palace in Cloverdale
Pacific Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show
Carousel Theatre Presents: James and the Giant Peach
Karaoke Christmas Lights Vancouver Trolley Tours
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden
Bright Nights in Stanley Park Christmas Train
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Arts Club Presents: Mary Poppins
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Free Family Days at the Contemporary Art Gallery
Shotgun Album Release w/ Milkers Wanted & Special Guests
CONTACT Winter Festival at BC Place
Ellie King’s Sleeping Beauty, Surrey Arts Centre
Vancouver TheatreSports Year in Review
Surrey’s Winter Ice Palace in Cloverdale
Pacific Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show
Carousel Theatre Presents: James and the Giant Peach
Karaoke Christmas Lights Vancouver Trolley Tours
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden
Bright Nights in Stanley Park Christmas Train
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Arts Club Presents: Mary Poppins
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Stanley Park Walking Tour: Stanley Park Secrets
12 Bars of Christmas Pub Crawl Series
Vancouver Adapted Music Society Christmas Concert
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily at Jericho Arts
Ellie King’s Sleeping Beauty, Surrey Arts Centre
Vancouver TheatreSports Year in Review
Surrey’s Winter Ice Palace in Cloverdale
Pacific Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show
Carousel Theatre Presents: James and the Giant Peach
Karaoke Christmas Lights Vancouver Trolley Tours
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden
Bright Nights in Stanley Park Christmas Train
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Arts Club Presents: Mary Poppins
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
View the full monthly event list to plan ahead at any time. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for frequent updates about local events and community happenings.
There is just over a week left in 2014 and as we look back at the year we just had, and look forward at what might come in 2015 — and we all still await hoverboards as shown Back to the Future‘s version of 2015 — I thought I would time hop back to Vancouver in 1915 to see what life was like 100 years ago.
15 Photos of Vancouver in 1915
In 1915 Vancouver saw the last spike of the Canadian Northern Railway (running from Quebec to Vancouver) driven at Basque, BC, near Ashcroft; the Vancouver Millionaires win the Stanley Cup in the Denman Arena, led by the scoring of Cyclone Taylor; the first Georgia Viaduct opened; the North Shore’s Marine Drive was opened by Premier Richard McBride; former US President Teddy Roosevelt and his wife visited Vancouver; and more. [Source]
English Bay. Archives# CVA 1376-109.
Wooden road and sidewalk in Kerrisdale. Archives# CVA 660-329. John Davidson photo.
Car on the Georgia Viaduct, Sun Tower in the background. Archives# CVA 99-18.
Nelson Street, Downtown Vancouver. Archives# Str P181.2.
Vancouver Rowing Club in Coal Harbour, Denman Arena in the background. Archives# CVA 99-1029.
A parade on Hastings, looking east from Carrall. Archives# CVA 371-1022.
Hastings Street viaduct, BC Sugar Refinery in the distance. Archives# SGN 1125.
29th Vancouver Battalion marching on Pender Street at the C.P.R. crossing. Archives# Mil P98. Stuart Thomson photo.
Passengers boarding a North Vancouver ferry. Archives# SGN 1124.
A sea plane on the water in Coal Harbour. Archives #Air P73.2.
Portion of fire damaged section of Connaught Bridge [Cambie Street Bridge, collapsed in False Creek]. Archives# SGN 996.1.
University Avenue (4th Ave) Diversion. Archives# CVA 371-819.
Residences in the 4100 block of West 12th Ave. Archives# SGN 353.
Touring car at Hollow Tree in Stanley Park. Archives# CVA 677-75.
Capilano Suspension Bridge. Archives# CVA 660-276. John Davidson photo.
It was a big year for tourism is Squamish, which already has a the title of being Canada’s Outdoor Recreation Capital. In May this past year, the Sea to Sky Gondola opened to the public, offering new views and activities over 880 meters above sea level. Looking out at Howe Sound and the Stawamus Chief, the Sea to Sky Gondola’s Summit Lodge offers services, amenities, and craft beer after you’ve enjoyed your stroll, hike, or snowshoe. Many people have enjoyed this latest attraction and I’ve found photos that illustrate this beautiful new destination.
Sea to Sky Gondola Photos
Follow the Sea to Sky Gondola on Facebook and Twitter for information about their winter season.
