By Daryl Major

Hundreds expected to mark the new year with chilly ocean splash

Jan 1, 2017 | 6:13 AM

PARKSVILLE  —  Like making resolutions, the Polar Bear Splash in Parksville is an annual New Year’s Day tradition for many on the mid-island.

2017 marks the 27th annual Splash at Parksville Beach, hosted by the Regional District of Nanaimo. Aquatic Programmer Anne Porteous says they’re expecting another good crowd.

“It was my husband that started it a long time ago,” said Porteous. “He was a programmer way back when, Dan Porteous. He started the Polar Bear Splash and the numbers have definitely grown year after year. I think we were up at close to 200 or 300 people last year.”

Porteous says close to half of that number went into the water, while the rest stood on the beach cheering. According to Porteous, people have different reasons for coming back year after year.

“I don’t know about a dare, but there’s lots of people that come out, lots of costumes and lots of smiles and happy faces,” she said.”It’s something that is a tradition that’s definitely grown over the years. It’s just amazing.”

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Registration is at 11:30 a.m. The Polar Bear Splash starts at noon.