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Channel your inner polar bear during icy plunge in Okanagan Lake

Channel your inner polar bear during icy plunge in Okanagan Lake | iNFOnews.ca
Kelowna Polar Bear Swim, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Photographer: Adam Proskiw

KELOWNA – Polar bear swims have become a traditional way to welcome the new year for many people and residents of the Central Okanagan are no exception.

There will be two to choose from the region, one in Kelowna and another in Peachland, and those willing to go a bit further also have the option of taking part in the Summerland swim, which has been running annually for more than 30 years.

The second annual Kelowna Polar Bear Dip takes place at 2 p.m. in Tugboat Bay at Waterfront Park on Jan. 1.

The event is held as a fundraiser for the Community Recreational Initiatives Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing outdoor activities for people with disabilities.

Peachland Parks and Recreation is also holding its annual Polar Bear Swim Friday, Jan. 1.

Would-be polar bears are advised to check in at 12:30 p.m. in the community centre before getting ready for a splash and dash into Okanagan Lake.

Underage bears must get a parent to sign a waiver for participation.

To contact a reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca

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