The Season of Cold Plunges
There are two types of people in the world: those that simply survive the winter and those that indulge in it. Believe it or not, there are a handful of people that find solace in the cold, and it’s actually easier than any of us might think to take the plunge into embracing the cold weather.
Cold plunges, or polar bear dips, in Canada are largely credited to a Greek fellow by the name of Peter Pantages. Peter, better known as Pete, arrived in Vancouver from Andros, Greece. This name may ring a bell for Vancouverites, as he was the nephew of “Alexander the Great,” who ran Pantages theatre on Hastings Street. Pete worked with his uncle at the theatre but made time every single day, no matter the weather, for a swim at English Bay.
Peter Pantages poses on a snowy beach in 1927. Photo by Stuart Thomson/City of Vancouver Archives CVA 99-1786.
On January 1, 1920, he convinced others to join him for one of these cold plunges; and thus, the tradition was born. Even after all these years, people still gather on New Year's Day in cities across the country to take a cold plunge and celebrate the new year.
Many find it difficult to see the appeal of entering a large body of freezing cold water; however, regularly exposing yourself to cold water has proven to have many benefits. In 2020, a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that “regular swimming training in cold water seems to have a positive effect on various systems such as the cardiovascular system, endocrine system, immune system and the psyche.” These benefits have drawn many individuals in, and several have made cold plunges part of their regular routines.
“The cold water has taught me that collectively we can endure much more through a spirit of lightheartedness than we can through defiance, that surrender is a far better process to apply to what's hard, than resistance, and in fact, that resistance makes everything truly more difficult. The ocean at its very starkest has stripped me of all the chatter of my mind. It has taken me in without reservation, when I have met it with routine. Cold water plunging has become one of my great Teachers, so I continue to take journey-sized steps into the water to honour my teacher.” - Zoë Pawlak, from Taking the Plunge.
The benefits of cold plunges extend past physical and mental well-being. The group that joined Pete on January 1, 1920, continued joining him on daily swims. They went on to form Vancouver Polar Bear Club.
The Polar Bear Club with founder Peter Pantages on the far left, gets ready for a swim on New Year’s Day in 1939. Photo by Major James Skitt Matthews/City of Vancouver Archives CVA 371-836.
This is exemplary of the incredibly strong sense of community that can be found at the water's edge in colder weather. These communities make it easier to not only take the plunge but also provide a way of connecting to others and the water to help get through the winter months.
Even if you’re not interested in going for a cold plunge, it may surprise you how much you enjoy the shoreline in the dead of winter. Connecting with your local waterbody doesn’t have to be limited to warmer weather. If you aren’t sure where to begin, our Swim Guide platform provides an easy way to find and connect with beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes in your area. Whether you take the plunge or immerse yourself in the beauty of the environment, the water’s edge is a space for you to find connection all year long.
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