You dared to dip: Top 10 moments from this year’s Polar Dip

WWF

Corporate leaders, workplace teams, wildlife lovers and adventure-seekers gathered on the shore of Lake Ontario and dared to dip into its frigid waters last week to help conserve Canada’s Arctic for wildlife such as polar bears, narwhals and bowhead whales that depend on the sea ice for survival.
If running into a freezing lake in the middle of the winter wasn’t enough, more than 100 dippers raised over $30,000 for WWF-Canada’s Arctic conservation work. Here are the Top 10 highlights.

10. The stylish dippers from Fairmont Royal York and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts made the chilly plunge look like a tranquil experience. With $5,000 raised, they are the top fundraisers so far.

Fairmont’s dippers pose after taking the plunge © Fairmont Royal York Facebook
Fairmont’s dippers pose after taking the plunge © Fairmont Royal York Facebook

 

9.Blue Ant Media’s army of 15 dippers was the largest polar dip team to brave the freezing waters.

Blue Ant Media celebrating after taking the icy plunge © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada
Blue Ant Media celebrating after taking the icy plunge © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada

8. Dippers from Riddle Room made an impression with their wild outfits.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRMb119Bq4T/
 

7. Canadian band USS warmed up for WWF’s CN Tower Climb for Nature by getting a little cold for Arctic species.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BREl33XFlY3/?taken-by=ussmusic
 

6. Been there, done that. Veteran dipper Frances Edmonds, head of sustainability at HP Canada, has done the dip with her team every year.

Frances Edmonds, head of sustainability at HP Canada with the HP Canada Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada
Frances Edmonds, head of sustainability at HP Canada with the HP Canada Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada

5. Passionate wildlifers and WWF’s youngest polar dippers, Jarvis and Ella, don’t look worried before the dip.

Jarvis Carrol and Ella Paul-Chowdhury hanging out pre-dip © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada
Jarvis Carrol and Ella Paul-Chowdhury hanging out pre-dip © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada

4. Tyler Mifflin, one half of The Water Brothers and a WWF-Canada Water Ambassador, stayed submerged long after other dippers had dried off, having honed his polar dip skills in Canada’s Arctic. To see the action unfold, check out this amazing 360 video of Tyler’s dip experience.

Tyler flexes his polar dip muscles (c) James Carpenter/WWF-Canada
Tyler flexes his polar dip muscles © James Carpenter/WWF-Canada

3. Corporate executives led by example, blazing the beachy trail with their teams. Hats off to Fairmont vice-president of brand Jane Mackie; Bullfrog vice-president of sales and marketing Anthony Santilli; Love Nature executive producer Craig Colby; Hewlett Packard Enterprise head of legal Jim Vibert; WWF-Canada’s own chief financial officer Gail Cosman and board member Lloyd Bryant.

Jim Vibert, head of legal at HPE and the HPE Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada
Jim Vibert, head of legal at HPE and the HPE Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada

2. Not only did team Bullfrog dip, they helped make the event even more sustainable by powering it.

Ron Seftel, CEO of Bullfrog Power and Anthony Santilli, VP of sales and marketing with the Bullfrog Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada
Ron Seftel, CEO of Bullfrog Power and Anthony Santilli, VP of sales and marketing with the Bullfrog Polar Dip team. © James Carpenter/ WWF-Canada

1. Since WWF-Canada’s first Polar Dip four years ago, you’ve raised more than a quarter million dollars in support of Arctic conservation efforts. Thank you to the corporate champions and other participants who helped make WWF’s Polar Dip a success.


Are you inspired by these courageous dippers and looking to make a difference in 2017? Register for WWF’s CN Tower Climb for Nature on April 8 and 9.