2026 Nelson Polar Bear Swim
Dive In & Make a Difference
Support Local Radio & Lake Stewardship!
Kick off the new year with a splash and make a difference!
A fundraiser for Kootenay co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake
Thursday, January 1st 2026 Lakeside Park Beach Nelson, BC, Canada
Since 2017, The Polar Bear Swim is brought to you by Kootenay Co-op Radio, your beloved community-powered radio station. It brings together 400+ brave souls each year for a splash of fun and community spirit!
By taking the plunge, you challenge yourself (and your friends!), you boost your health with an invigorating cold dip and you support local radio & stewardship on Kootenay Lake
Thank you so much for your support!
A huge thank you to all the participants of the 2026 Nelson Polar Bear Swim! We are so grateful to our generous sponsors and donors who helped make this fundraiser such a success. Hats off to the incredible fundraising participants who rallied friends and family to donate, your efforts truly made a difference!
Thank you to everyone who showed up on the beach to dance, smile, and bravely jump into the water.
We’re thrilled to share that we’ve raised $6,373 so far, which is 80% of our goal! The fundraising platform will remain open until January 31 if you’d like to donate and support community-powered radio.
And a BIG thank you to all the volunteers who made it all possible. What an amazing community we have here! Check out the amazing photos by Madeleine Guenette capturing the day!More pictures coming!
Register and raise funds!
Create your fundraiser profile and invite friends and family to sponsor your plunge!
Every dollar raised powers your local community radio station, and each year a portion of the proceeds supports the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society
Win Prizes!
Raise the most money and you could win amazing prizes, including a mobile sauna rental, gift cards to Broken Hill and Save-On-Foods, or, as a team, Nordic Ski Club passes and a cozy basket. Dress up too — the Best Costume wins $50 at The Tickle Trunk Shop!
The fundraising platform will remain open for donations until January 31. To determine the top fundraiser, we will stop counting donations as of January 2 at noon. This gives you plenty of time to share your plunge with supporters and possibly raise even more!
How to participate?
1. SIGN THE WAIVER
Please make sure to sign the waiver before taking the plunge with us at Lakeside Park !
1. FUNDRAISE!
Set up your individual and/or team fundraising page(s), fundraise and share
3. TAKE THE PLUNGE
Take the plunge with us at Lakeside Park OR whenever your want, make sure to share pictures and videos with your supporters!
SPONSOR A PLUNGER!
Sponsor a plunger! All proceeds help power your local community radio, Kootenay Co-op Radio, while each year a portion also supports the Friends of Kootenay Lake and their important lake stewardship projects. Donate to cheer on your friends or family as they bravely take the icy plunge!
Fundraise to support two local non-profit organizations
KOOTENAY CO-OP RADIO
Since 1999, KCR has worked with the community to build the radio station into the member-owned, member-operated destination for listeners who want the authentic West Kootenay experience. Each week, our passionate team of volunteer hosts serve up almost 100 hours of original music and talk broadcasts, exploring the wide spectrum of tastes, issues and opinions that shape the unique spirit of our region.
FRIENDS OF KOOTENAY LAKE STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS) is your local environmental non-profit that works to improve the health and stewardship of Kootenay Lake through monitoring, habitat restoration, capacity building, and empowerment of local communities, First Nations, and stakeholders.
THANK YOU TO OUR ICE SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SNOW SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR WATER SPONSORS
