The community is invited to take a chilly dip in the bay again this year.
The 59th annual Frank Ney Memorial Polar Bear Swim will be held on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, at Departure Bay Beach.
Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty is once again sponsoring the event, which happens at 1 p.m. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. at the Departure Bay Kin Hut.
“Come on down to Departure Bay Beach and join in the craziness as Nanaimo’s bravest run into the icy cold water,” notes an event posting on social media. “A fun-filled event for the whole family, whether you are swimming or just watching.”
Registration is free but organizers hope people will bring non-perishable food donations for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. There will be free hot beverages and snacks for participants.
As part of the event, there will be a tribute to Bill McGuire, former commodore of the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, who died this past weekend.