The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim will have its 93rd run on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013. This free event is open to the entire community and all those brave enough to splash in the waters of English Bay on the first day of the year.
Peter Pantages & Miss E Robinson in English Bay Dec 1927 – Archives Item #CVA 99-1787
Around the 1950s, the participation was approximately 250 to 300 swimmers, and six lifeguards and one supervisor were used for safety supervision. Today, anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 swimmers participate (record to-date 2,246 in 2011) and 5,000 to 10,000 spectators making it necessary for the Park Board to construct a fenced enclosure for the swimmers. – Vancouver Polar Bear Club
Arrive by 12:30pm to register as a Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club member and receive your badge — and the chance to win prizes. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in The Province and presenting it at the registration desk. The swim will then begin at 2:30pm, setting out from the beach in front of the bath house at English Bay.
Wear a costumes and compete in the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race or just come out to watch and enjoy the fun. Donations of non-perishable food or cash are accepted by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
This holiday season Virgin Mobile Canada’s RE*Generation is doing some good as they raise $200,000 for at-risk and homeless youth programs in Canada. For a limited time you can purchase a special Virgin Mobile Canada RE*Generation Samsung Galaxy Ace II x and $15 from the sale of the phone will go directly to the Virgin Unite RE*Generation movement.
In Vancouver, the RE*Generation movement has already shown its commitment with helping the Broadway Youth Resource Centre and also Project Limelight, including backing from serious star power: Sir Richard Branson, Vancouver actor and Glee star Cory Monteith, and Bedouin Soundclash.
To promote the movement and this fantastic phone deal that supports local causes, Virgin Mobile Canada has offered up a Samsung Galaxy Ace II x for one lucky Miss604 reader (value $199 CAD). This Android (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) smart phone has a 4.0″ WVGA full touchscreen, 5 MP camera, Samsung TouchWiz for Android, and the added bonus of $15 going to RE*Generation supporting at-risk youth programs — right here in BC.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
For more information, follow Virgin Mobile and Virgin Unite on Twitter. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, December 28, 2012.
Update The winner is @kateelizasloan!
Snow has been the topic of conversation across the continent over the last few days and heading from Vancouver to the Midwest in the middle of a blizzard makes me appreciate our rainy weather just a little bit more. Despite the traffic snarls and transit interruptions, the snow can in fact be a whole lot of fun — especially during the holidays. I found a few flake-filled photos from the Vancouver Public Library archives that demonstrate just that.
1889 – East side of the 100 block Carrall Street.
VPL Accession Number: 13232. Photographer / Studio: Bailey Bros.
1904 – City hall and Carnegie Library (Hastings at Main).
VPL Accession Number: 3432. Photographer / Studio: Philip Timms.
1909 – Streetcars in the snow (Granville looking south from Dunsmuir).
VPL Accession Number: 7136. Photographer / Studio: Philip Timms.
1908 – West Hastings from Granville.
VPL Accession Number: 7205. Photographer / Studio: Philip Timms.
1900s – Georgia Street in the snow.
VPL Accession Number: 2452. Photographer / Studio: Philip Timms.
1910s – 900 block of Granville in the snow.
VPL Accession Number: 18488. Photographer / Studio: Harold Smith.
1916 – Granville Street covered in snow.
VPL Accession Number: 8303. Photographer / Studio: Philip Timms.
1954 – BC Electric buses at Pender and Seymour in the snow.
VPL Accession Number: 82437. Photographer / Studio: Artray.
1950 – Stanley Park, snow being swept from frozen Lost Lagoon.
VPL Accession Number: 81138. Photographer / Studio: Artray
1971 – Snow storm Downtown.
VPL Accession Number: 9600E. Photographer / Studio: W Roozeboom.
1971 – Snow storm Downtown.
VPL Accession Number: 9600O. Photographer / Studio: W Roozeboom.
The OPUS is Vancouver’s premiere boutique hotel and is a pillar of the Yaletown community. From its nightlife and cuisine, to perks for guests like discounts at local shops and in-room iPhones.
Once again OPUS Bar is hosting one of the hottest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city sponsored by Veuve Clicquot luxury champagnes. Enjoy 2 floors of fun from 10:00pm to midnight and a champagne bar and DJ until 2:00am. Tickets are on sale now.
The OPUS wants to make sure one lucky Miss604 reader and their guest have the best New Year’s Eve possible so they offered up an amazing prize package that includes:
- 2 tickets to New Year’s Eve at OPUS Bar
- 1 night stay at OPUS Hotel in a Superior Room (December 31, 2012)
- Welcome beverage upon arrival
- Luxury chauffeur service in downtown
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and in-room iPad
The total prize value is $699! Here’s how you can enter to win this fabulous night out in the city to ring in 2013:
- Leave a comment naming with whom you would share this New Year’s Eve experience (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
One winner will be drawn at random from all entries at 11:00am on Friday, December 28, 2012. Must be 19+ to enter and attend. Please enjoy responsibly. Follow OPUS Hotel on Facebook and Twitter for more information about their rooms, amenities, special events, dining, and more.
Update The winner is Erica!
A perfect storm of MidWest blizzards, record YVR snowfall, delayed connections, airport sprints, and a pilot’s illness has left us stranded in Denver while we try to get back to John‘s hometown in Iowa for Christmas. As such, I didn’t anticipate having two straight days of travel and I haven’t been able to put today’s posts together. So… I’m taking a “Snow Day”!
Hopefully we take off and land safely at our destination (which is a new destination about 90 miles outside of our original location) and I’ll be back with more contests and content for you later today. Happy Holidays!
