By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Bone-chilling Polar Bear plunge goes Boxing Day in Nanaimo

Dec 24, 2018 | 10:52 AM

NANAIMO — Taking an annual dip in frigid Departure Bay is one way to shake a Boxing Day hangover.

The 59th annual Frank Ney Memorial Polar Bear Swim organized by Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty happens Wednesday at the Kin Hut at Departure Bay Beach.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., while swimmers charge into the ocean at 1 p.m.

Brad Ney, coordinator of the free, long-standing event, told NanaimoNewsNOW about 200 brave swimmers of all ages are expected for the annual icy plunge.

“We’re going to have lots of coffee and hot chocolate, a nice big bonfire…It will be a fun family atmosphere,” Ney said.

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Ney, the son of legendary late Nanaimo mayor Frank Ney, said there will be prizes for the swimmers with the best costumes.

“Lots of people have promised to come down, we’ll just see how daring they are,” Ney chuckled.

Donations will be collected for the Haven Society in Nanaimo, and non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank.

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