Thousands return for Vancouver Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day 2024

People from across Metro Vancouver descended on English Bay beach on New Year's Day as part of the annual Polar Bear Swim, which has run for over a century.

Thousands of swimmers braved the cold waters, with the cool winter breeze making it feel like 6 C.Many of them were wearing costumes.

Last year, around 6,000 people showed up to have a dip in the chilly waters of English Bay, which is located in the West End in Vancouver's downtown peninsula.

The Polar Bear Swimtradition was started in 1920 by Peter Pantages, who had recently immigrated from Greece. He used to swim at least once a day in honour of his home island of Andros in Greece,according to his granddaughter Lisa.

WATCH | Vancouverites brave the chilly waters of English Bay:

Vancouverites dive into the new year with Polar Bear Swim

9 months ago

Duration 2:30

Following a tradition that's now more than a century old, brave swimmers flooded a Vancouver beach to ring in the new year with a chilly plunge at the annual Polar Bear Swim.

Pantages,who owned the Peter Pan Cafe on Granville Street, died in 1971, but the event he started has endured through the years only being interrupted by the pandemic.

Here are some of the best photos from the 2024 edition of the swim, with many participants calling it a refreshing way to start the year. Similar events took placethroughout the province.