Annual New Year's Day 'polar bear dip' cancelled in Toronto

TORONTO - The cold snap gripping much of Canada is even keeping the polar bear dippers out of the water.

The Toronto Polar Bear Club has cancelled its New Year's Day polar bear dip for the first time in 13 years.

The club says participant safety and ice conditions at Toronto's Sunnyside Beach led to the decision to cancel.

The club says it's looking into running the event on a later date, but is encouraging anyone doing their own "mini polar bear dip" on New Year's Day to post video to Facebook or Twitter.

For alternatives to a dip, it suggests jumping in a snowbank or making snow angels while wearing a bathing suit.

"If we can't be together tomorrow, let's be together in spirit!" the club said Sunday in tweets and a Facebook posting.

 

Unfortunately due to ice conditions at Sunnyside Beach and in consideration of participant safety we have made the...

Posted by Toronto Polar Bear Club on Sunday, December 31, 2017

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  FILE -- Participants in the Polar Bear Dip run into Lake Ontario in sub-zero temperatures to mark the New Year in Oakville, Ont., on Thursday, January 1, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese)