SARATOGA BEACH, B.C- Hundreds of people ran into the cold waters of the Georgia Strait south of Campbell River today.
The swimmers came to take part in the annual polar bear swim at Saratoga Beach, sponsored for the second time round by Salmon Point Restaurant and Bar.
A food drive was held by Forbidden Zone Pizza with the Campbell River food bank, with food and cash donations accepted. A hard number on the amounts raised is not available at this time.
According to Jim Flohr, the restaurant owner, around three hundred people ran into the water, with close to a thousand people on the shoreline. 250 participant ribbons were produced for swimmers, with all used by the time the swim began.
Participants in the 2019 Polar Bear Swim get ready to go in the water on the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista RadioA participant in the 2019 Polar Bear Swim get ready to go in the water on the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista RadioA participant in the 2019 Polar Bear Swim get ready to go in the water on the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista RadioParticipants in the 2019 Polar Bear Swim make their way back out of the water on the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista Radio
A participant in the 2019 Polar Bear Swim sits in the water on the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista RadioJordan Dennis and Kylea Archer make their way out of the water during the 2019 Polar Bear Swim at Saratoga Beach the morning of January 1st, 2019. Photo by James Wood/98.9 The Goat/Vista Radio
The weather was overcast, but the water was calm. A few swimmers lingered in the water until the Oyster River fire department called them out.
The First Nations Leadership Council said it’s “deeply disturbed and angered” by what it calls alarmist comments by B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad about Aboriginal title rights.
