More than 150 people gathered on New Year’s Day for annual tradition
It’s a community fundraiser that began as a dare among friends in 1994 and has grown into a long-running local tradition.
Dorchester’s Polar Dip took place yesterday afternoon at Palmer’s Pond, with firefighters on site assisting participants, a bonfire set up for warmth, food sold by Station 8, and a gathering afterward at the Keillor House Museum. Funds raised this year are being split between the Dorchester Fire Hall and the Station 8 Community Centre.
How it all began
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The first Dorchester dip happened on Jan 1, 1994, following a New Year’s Eve party at Dorchester’s Lions Club. One of the original jumpers Brian MacLean said the idea started as a joke.
“We are having a Lion’s New Year’s Eve party. And one of the Lions said for a joke, let’s go down and jump in the ice tomorrow morning. And we showed up the next day, cut a hole in the ice and three of us jumped in.”
MacLean said about 35 to 40 people watched that first dip, with temperatures hovering around minus three degrees. Over the years, conditions have varied widely.
“In the coldest year that I can recall, it was minus 25, with a wind chill of minus 35, and we had rope around some of the younger people and the rope froze.”
Although the original jumpers eventually stopped participating for health reasons, MacLean said the longevity of the event has been meaningful.
“It’s great to know that we started something that three decades later is still going. It’s unbelievable. Really.”
A community tradition
Dorchester councillor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell said the Polar Dip quickly evolved beyond its origins.
“It started off with a small thing. We supported the Bob Edgett Boxing Club at first, when it started out, and then the firemen got involved. And so then it became a community event.”
She said Dorchester is one of only a few communities in the region to sustain the tradition for this long.
“When you look all over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, there’s only a few places that do this event. So we are very fortunate to have it for 30, 33 or 34 years.”
A past jumper herself, Wiggins-Colwell added that the focus has always remained on giving back locally.
“It’s family or community oriented is where the money goes.”
New generations take the plunge
This year’s dip included first-time jumpers alongside returning participants, including a mix of both in one local family of four.
Andre Deveau said this was his first time jumping into the icy water.
“This is the first time for me, and yeah, last year it was in a pool, so it was kind of different. This is actually the real experience.”
His son Zachary, who also participated, said the cold was noticeable.
“It was like refreshing for doing that after, but it was like super cold.”
After warming up, Deveau said the family plans to take part again.
“Oh yeah. Yeah. Amazing. It actually feels good.”
After 33 years, the Dorchester Polar Dip continues to bring people together each New Year’s Day, combining cold water, community spirit, and fundraising for local causes.
After the event, all were invited to the Keillor House Museum for hot apple cider and refreshments as part of the New Year’s Levee.
It is not yet known how much was raised for this years event.
View more pics from the 33rd Annual Dorchester Polar Dip:
