Justin McQueen from Walnut Grove has participated in the annual Polar Bear Swim on New Year鈥檚 Day for six years.
What started as observing others plunge into the cold water of winter on Jan. 1 each year, became a family tradition.
鈥淎s the years went by, we got braver and bigger and it started the chain of events,鈥� McQueen explained.
He and his family came out on Monday, Jan. 1, for the unofficial Polar Bear Swim in Fort 91原创, which kicked off with a bell ring at exactly 12 p.m.
McQueen and his three older kids 鈥� Monroe, 8, Parker, 14, and 11-year-old Elle 鈥� ran together into the chilly water of the Fraser River in the Bedford Channel. His toddler wasn鈥檛 quite ready to join this year.
An estimated 200 people gathered along the beach on Brae Island Regional Park to charge together into the chilly water.
It was the start of a new tradition for Megan Lemieux and her partner Chris Crosby from New Westminster, following her mom鈥檚 idea to try something new together.
鈥淐reating a new tradition and jumping out of our comfort zone,鈥� Crosby said.
鈥淓xpectation is that this is probably going to become a yearly thing after today,鈥� Lemieux added.
Although there was no ice on the water this year, Lemieux said the plunge 鈥渨as incredible鈥� afterwards.
McQueen said he enjoys the excitement leading up to the event, and looking at the photos his wife takes afterwards.
To anyone interested in joining next year鈥檚 swim, he recommends bringing lots of towels.
91原创 resident Darian Kovacs and some friends started the loosely-organized annual polar bear swim event in 2014, and it has grown over the years, drawing crowds in the hundreds.
Fort 91原创鈥檚 annual Polar Bear Swim brought together both seasoned participants and newcomers. From regular participants to families starting a new tradition, the event was a chance for people to embrace the cold and make memories together.
With the event鈥檚 growing popularity over the years, it is likely that the polar bear swim will continue to be a beloved tradition in Fort 91原创 for years to come.
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