Braving the Cold

The Polar Bear Dip is not for the faint of heart. On New Year's Day, Toronto dippers take a communal plunge into the frigid waters of Lake Ontario. In 2005, the lake looked like a giant Slushie with a floating layer of crushed ice. It is COLD! While the event may seem a little mad, it raises money to support the Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre which provides kids with the mental health and other supports they need during child abuse investigations. The photos in this set were taken between the years 2014 to the most recent dip in 2023.