It was in 1920 that Peter Pantages, founder of Vancouver’s Polar Bear Swim Club, led a hardy group of swimmers who all plunged into English Bay on New Year’s Day. There were 10 participants back then and now, 98 years later, over 2,000 people participate in this local tradition each year.

Peter Pantages on a snowy Vancouver beach in 1927. Archives# CVA 99-1786.

Polar Bear Swim Vancouver

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim 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, it’s free. Prizes are drawn from all registrations. Download the registration form online and bring it to English Bay before the swim, starting at 12:30pm on January 1st.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will be accepting donations of non-perishable food or cash on site as well.

New Year’s Day 1939 + 2011. Archives# CVA 371-836 + Photo credit: Michael Kalus – Michael Kalus Print

Polar Bear Swim White Rock

The 48th annual Polar Bear Swim in White Rock will take place at 12:00pm on January 1, 2018. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available, along with photo ops with Mr. Polar Bear. Gather for the noon plunge at the legendary “white rock” just east of the White Rock Pier.

Photo credit: Tyler Ingram on Flickr

Polar Bear Swim North Vancouver

Deep Cove Panorama Park hosts the annual Penguin Plunge on January 1st from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, with the plunge promptly taking place at 2:00pm. Enjoy live music, food and refreshments. Participants can collect pledges for their plunge, with proceeds going to the Royal Canada Marine Search & Rescue Stn 2.

Delta

Join the 38th Annual Polar Bear Swim at Centennial Beach (Boundary Bay Regional Park) on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Registration starts at 12:00pm and the Polar Bear Swim is at 1:00pm. The top 3 swimmers will be awarded a trophy and a prize; there are also prizes for oldest swimmer and swimmer from furthest away.

If you’re looking to warm up after your chilly dip, the Tsawwassen’s Lions Club will be serving hot chocolate and you can find yourself a polar bear to keep you warm while you take a few selfies. There will also be a raffle for items from our sponsors with the grand prize as a pack of 4 tickets to a Vancouver Canucks hockey game, sponsored by Southwest Mortgage.

Port Moody

Take the Penguin Plunge in Port Moody at 1:00pm on January 1st at the Rocky Point boat launch. Registration starts at 11:30. As this is a fundraiser for Pleasantside Community Association, participants are asked to donate $5 per person or $10 for a family of 4. Money collected goes towards programs at Old Orchard Hall, Play Pals, Can Can dancers, and seniors badminton. There will be sweet treats, coffee and hot chocolate for purchase.

Fort Langley

Be at Brae Island Beach for the annual Fort Langley Polar Bear Swim at 12:00pm on January 1st.

There’s a saying you can hear being uttered across the Lower Mainland when a flurry of clouds part and we can see the gorgeous snow lines appear on the North Shore: “The mountains are out!” While they make for amazing photo ops and Instagram opportunities, they are also ready to ride and this season you’ve got plenty of chances to enjoy these snowy winter wonderlands, no matter your skill level.

Photo courtesy of Grouse Mountain

Take a lesson then apres in the Hollyburn Lodge and enjoy live music every Friday night at Cypress, lace up some skates for the Grouse Mountain Pond Hockey Classic in February, or test your skills at Mt Seymour’s Youth Progression Jam or Vans Hi Standard snowboard series.

Each of the local mountains has unique terrain, amenities, and views:

Cypress has 6 Chair lifts (2 high speed) and 3 surface lifts, 53 runs (the most on the North Shore), and the longest run combo is 4.1 km (T33 into Collins). It has 600 acres (240 hectares) of skiable terrain, a vertical rise of 610m (2010 ft), and night skiing on Black Mountain and Mount Strachan, the two mountains that make up the resort area.

Mt. Seymour has 200 acres of downhill ski and snowboard terrain with 40 trails and 5 lifts. There are 4 terrain parks with 12 trails, 4 snowtubing lanes, 8 toboggan runs, a vertical rise of 330m and a longest trail reaching 1.6km.

Grouse Mountain has 26 ski and snowboard runs, 14 night runs, 4 chairlifts, 2 terrain parks plus the Cut Jump Line, 10km of snowshoe trails and the North Shore’s most extensive snowmaking system.

Photo courtesy of Mt. Seymour

Our local mountains always host fun, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations and this year you can enjoy an early countdown, live entertainment, fireworks, skating, sliding, snowshoeing and more at Grouse Mountain’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Family First Night at Mount Seymour will have tobogganing, fireworks, s’mores, and more!

Ride in Style

Having the right gear is always key, and last year I upgraded some of my equipment as I have done every few years since I was a young teen: Buying second hand. Whether you’re the seller, or the buyer, Canada’s #1 online classifieds platform, Kijiji is a top destination for Canadians looking for great value year-round, reaching more than half of the country’s online population.

With more than 2 new ads posted on Kijiji every second of every day, users can find almost anything imaginable right in their own communities. Browse or sell snowshoes, snowboards, skates, and skis.

Kijiji’s Top Selling Tips:

• Thorough titles. Include important facts such as brand name, product name, size, and price in your title in order to get people to read your full ad.
• Detailed descriptions. Provide as much detail as possible. Where applicable, include measurements of the item, history of the item, and the condition (new vs used). Be honest; don’t be afraid to say the item is scratched or damaged. If this is a holiday gift, is it unopened?
• Pictures. Images are everything. Don’t use stock pictures or images from another web site. Buyers want to see the actual item if they are interested. Think about good lighting, close ups and clarity.
• Set the right price. Research a fair selling price based on similar ads and/or retail prices to maximize interest. If you’re eager to sell, indicate you’re listing price is flexible (“OBO” for “Or Best Offer”).
• Conditions of the sale. Is your item “first come first serve”? What form of payment do you prefer? When is full payment expected (upon pick up)? Is the price negotiable or firm? It’s now even easier as you have the option to quickly send and receive money via PayPal through the Kijiji app, on iOS or Android, at the meet-up.
• Respond promptly to inquiries about your ad. Buyers lose interest quickly. Reply to every inquiry. If you are holding the item for someone, let others know that you will get back to them if the sale does not go. Use the Kijiji App (available for download on iOS and Android) to easily post your ad and communicate with potential buyers in real-time on your mobile device.
• Pro Tip: If you’re in a rush to sell or aren’t getting any bites, you can pay a small fee to boost your ranking.

Photo courtesy of Mt. Seymour

Kijiji’s Top Buying Tips:

• Set up an alert on Kijiji (your desktop or app) based on your specific search terms to be notified when new ads are posted in your area that fit the bill. From there, you can easily inquire with sellers immediately and review the newest options in real-time!
• Use in-app messaging via the Kijiji app (and website) for real-time responses to show the seller you’re serious about the purchase and so you don’t miss out!
• Use specific key terms in your search to find exactly what you’re looking for, including any model numbers or features that will help you narrow down your search.
• Do your research to verify you’re getting a fair deal. Take a look at similar listings and retail prices to compare and evaluate the offer.
• Negotiate the selling price to save even more. Sellers will include a listing price in their ad, but are often open to negotiation and may even indicate “OBO” (or best offer) in their listing, so don’t be shy. You can even offer other incentives to bring down the selling price, like offering to meet at a location that most convenient to them.

Now that you have the event info, and access to the right gear, there’s no stopping your winter adventures this season on those amazing local mountains.

Midtwenties Theatre Society and Red Gate Arts Society present the world premiere of their first original theatre production, Above the Hospital, from Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the Red Gate Revue Stage.

Above the Hospital

When: January 12-21, 2018
Where: Red Gate Revue Stage at Granville Island (1601 Johnston St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Available online now starting at $20.

In 2017 Trudeau-era, two lower-class Vancouver millennials – the rational nursing student, Lauren, and her older, aspiring, musician-boyfriend, Cameron – live together in an overly priced, tiny apartment above a hospital. One night, a poor experience at a restaurant forces them to come back to their dingy abode earlier than expected. A casual evening of sex, pot, and talk turns into a casual night of drinking, arguing and reminiscing about the past, until unexpected guests arrive at their door and disrupt their stable existence, forcing them to re-examine themselves in the face of an unknown future.

Written and directed by Midtwenties Theatre Society’s Beau Han Bridge, Above the Hospital features performances by Tristan Smith (Posh) as Cameron, Zack Currie (This Is Our Youth) as Bo, Nadya Debogorski (A Game of You) as Abbey, Aaron Paul Stewart (The Flick) as Michael and debut performances from emerging artists Mira Maschmeyer as Lauren, and Emma Young as Natasha. Above the Hospital is Beau’s first original theatre production.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to opening night on January 13th at 7:00pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to @MTStheatre’s Above the Hospital http://ow.ly/5Tr230htdeK” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on January 3, 2018. Follow Midtwenties Theatre Society on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Update The winner is Lynne Karey-McKenna!

The last weekend in 2017 comes complete with theatre shows, holiday light displays, and of course New Year’s Eve options for party-goers, foodies, and families.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Miss604 is proud to sponsor the following featured attractions: Lights at Lafarge, Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas, and the VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights which all continue through the New Year.

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.

Friday, December 29, 2017
Fully and Completely: A Tragically Hip tribute
Sponsored by Miss604: Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Sponsored by Miss604: Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
Sponsored by Miss604: VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights
Ongoing Attractions
Christmas at Canada Place
Christmas at FlyOver Canada
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
GLOW Christmas at Milner Village Garden Centre
Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival at the PNE
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Theatre This Season
Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker
The Arts Club Presents: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
The Arts Club Presents: Onegin
East Van Panto: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
Little Women at the Kay Meek Centre

Saturday, December 30, 2017
Family Holiday Sleepover at the Vancouver Aquarium
Sponsored by Miss604: Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Sponsored by Miss604: Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
Sponsored by Miss604: VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights
Ongoing Attractions
Christmas at Canada Place
Christmas at FlyOver Canada
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
GLOW Christmas at Milner Village Garden Centre
Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival at the PNE
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Theatre This Season
Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker
The Arts Club Presents: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
The Arts Club Presents: Onegin
East Van Panto: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
Little Women at the Kay Meek Centre

Sunday, December 31, 2017
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Options »
Concord’s New Year’s Eve
Mamie Taylor’s NYE Pig Roast
Countdown to 2018 at H Lounge
NYE @ Timber
Burdock & Co NYE
Creekside Village New Year’s Eve Benefit
Patrick Maliha’s 5th Annual Naughty Little New Year’s Eve at The Rio
The Roxy Presents: Raise Em’ Up New Year’s Eve Party
Family Friendly NYE Variety Show
Winter Ice Palace Cloverdale
Winter Wonderland at Minoru Arena
Grouse Mountain Family NYE
Bells & Whistles NYE
SnowBall NYE 2018 at the Biltmore
In the Midnight Hour: NYE w/ DJ Slade & Queer As Funk
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Sponsored by Miss604: Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Sponsored by Miss604: Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
Sponsored by Miss604: VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights
Ongoing Attractions
Christmas at Canada Place
Christmas at FlyOver Canada
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
GLOW Christmas at Milner Village Garden Centre
Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival at the PNE
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Theatre This Season
The Arts Club Presents: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
The Arts Club Presents: Onegin
East Van Panto: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves

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The full January event list will be available early next week. If you have an event to list, please send it in by email for a free listing. Follow Miss604 on Twitter for more daily updates.

The city is silent, presents have been unwrapped, and you’re looking for something fun and festive to do with your loved ones. Look no further! There are a few attractions open on Christmas Day in Vancouver:

Open on Christmas Day in Vancouver

The Robson Square Ice Rink will be open for skating on Christmas Day from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

More ice skating can be enjoyed at Vancouver Parks rinks and arenas, including Trout Lake (12:00pm to 3:00pm) and Kerrisdale (1:30pm to 3:00pm).

The Vancouver Aquarium will be open from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Local Mountains: Visit the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain for some mountaintop ice skating, skiing, or snowshoeing. and Cypress will also be open for snowshoe, nordic, and downhill.

Light Displays: The free 1.2km trail of href=”http://bit.ly/Lafarge_ParkSpark”>Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam will turn on as usual at dusk. Also free, the Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival‘s 150,000 lights on display over 3 acres will be open, along with Christmas at Canada Place along the waterfront in Downtown Vancouver.

Charity Events: You can support the The Whalley Santa Cause, or attend the White Spot Christmas Lunch which supports the Richmond Hospital Foundation and Variety – The Children’s Charity.

If you have any other events to add, send them in via my contact form and I’ll include them. Thank you!

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