Nelson BC Polar Bear Swim

Nelson BC Polar Bear Swim Fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio & Friends of Kootenay Lake. Every January 1st at noon at Lakeside

We love you!
01/01/2026

We love you!

12/27/2025

That looks yummy, right? 😋
Raise the 2nd-most money at the Nelson Polar Bear Swim, and you could win $200 to Broken Hill in Nelson!
(And huge congrats to them for winning Best Tasting at Nelson Burger Month! 🙌)

❄️Register today for the 2026 Nelson Polar Bear Swim!
Support the most unique community-powered radio station in the Kootenays, the one that brings you:
- Independent & wonderfully weird music
- Talk shows that make you think
- And SO much more!

Take the plunge, raise some funds, and keep community radio thriving! 💙📻
Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/2026-nelson-polar-bear-swim

❤️

12/27/2025

💥💙When you fundraise for the Nelson Polar Bear Swim, you’re not only helping community-powered radio thrive, you also get the chance to win prizes!

Raise the third-highest amount and you’ll win a $100 Save-On-Foods shopping spree. 🛒

Huge thanks to Save-On-Foods for their generous support!

❄️🐻 Nelson Polar Bear Swim: Join the FUNdraising! 🐻❄️Brave souls are taking the plunge into 6°C water, all to support YO...
12/23/2025

❄️🐻 Nelson Polar Bear Swim: Join the FUNdraising! 🐻❄️

Brave souls are taking the plunge into 6°C water, all to support YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO STATION! 💙
Every splash helps keep community radio on the air and in the heart of Nelson.

Why we fundraise:
KCR is powered by community support: memberships, sponsorships, ads, and fundraisers like this one. Your donation helps us maintain our home on Hall Street (two studios, an office, and a basement for live music & community events!) and keeps our tech up to date.

Why support KCR:
🎶 100+ hours of original programming
🎙️ Real people, real voices, eclectic music & meaningful social issues
🌄 Local perspectives that reflect the spirit of the Kootenays

It takes a village to raise a community radio, and to fundraise for it too!
👉 Donate or sponsor a plunger and help keep independent media thriving! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/2026-nelson-polar-bear-swim

🌊 Take the Plunge for a Great Cause! ❄️The Nelson Polar Bear Swim is a fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio (KCR). Each y...
12/10/2025

🌊 Take the Plunge for a Great Cause! ❄️
The Nelson Polar Bear Swim is a fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio (KCR). Each year, a portion of the proceeds supports Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FOKLSS).

Join hundreds of brave souls ringing in the New Year with a refreshing dip in our beloved Kootenay Lake! Costumes and fun accessories are highly encouraged!
Not ready to jump in? Come cheer on the plungers!

👉 Register, fundraise, or donate: LINK IN BIO

Event Details

📅 Thursday, January 1, 2026
📍 Lakeside Park, Nelson
11am: Introduction to cold water therapy with Leif from Backcountry Sauna
Noon: Plunge at noon!
💰 Free to attend
☕ Free hot chocolate and coffee for participants

🏆 The more you raise, the bigger your chance to win fantastic prizes!
Top Individual Fundraiser
1st: One-Day Mobile Sauna Rental - Backcountry Saune
2d: $200 Gift Card - Broken Hill Restaurant in Nelson
3d: $100 Gift Card - Save On Foods
4th KCR T-shirt & FOKLSS swag

Special Prizes:
Best Team Fundraiser: 6-day passes to the Nelson Nordic Ski Club + cozy warming gift basket
Best Youth Fundraiser: $100 Gift Card at Mallard's Source for Sports
Best Costume: $50 Gift Card at the Tickle Trunk in Nelson

🎶 Music by Kootenay Co-op Radio DJ & MC on the beach

Funds raised support the important community work of Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake; helping keep our airwaves local and our lake healthy. Every dollar raised makes a difference!

🌟 How to Participate

1/ Create your fundraising page and start collecting donations

2/ Share your page with friends and family — by email or social media

3/ Take the plunge on January 1st at Lakeside Park (or from wherever you are!), and share your splash with your supporters!

More info: www.nelsonpolarbearswim.com

📍 Or stop by Kootenay Co-op Radio, 308A Hall Street, Nelson

💙 Thank You to Our 2025 Generous Sponsors!

❄️ Ice Sponsors
Ellison’s Market
Nelson & Kootenay Lake Tourism
Kootenay Co-op Grocery Store

☃️ Snow Sponsors
Lillie & Cohoe
Gilbert Parts
Kootenay Woodstoves

💧 Water Sponsors
Nelson Olive Oil Co.
Midas in Nelson


12/08/2025

The Polar Bear Swim is back on Thursday, January 1st at noon at Lakeside Park Beach in Nelson!

This chilly tradition is Kootenay Co-op Radio’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and we want YOU to join the hundreds of brave souls taking the icy plunge to support your community-powered radio station.

Each year, a portion of the proceeds also goes to the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society, helping protect and care for our beloved local lake.

Visit nelsonpolarbearswim.com, register and FUNDRAISE!

And the more you raise, the more chances you have to WIN amazing prizes, like:
• A one-day rental of a Backcountry Mobile Sauna
• A $200 gift card to Broken Hill
• $100 in groceries from Save-On-Foods
• …and more!

Take the plunge yourself, or cheer on and support a fearless friend.
Visit www.nelsonpolarbearswim.com to register or donate.

11/27/2025

The Nelson Polar Bear Swim is a fun community event and a fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio! Each year, a portion of the proceeds also supports the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society.
The more money you raise, the better your chances of winning amazing prizes donated by local sponsors!
How to Take Part?
Create a fundraiser profile and ask friends and family to sponsor your plunge!
Visit nelsonpolarbearswim[dot]com
Prizes for Best Individual Fundraiser:
📌One-Day Mobile Sauna Rental - Backcountry Sauna
📌$200 Gift Card - Broken Hill Restaurant in Nelson
📌$100 Gift Card - Save On Foods
📌KCR T-shirt & FOKLSS swag
Special Prizes:
📌Best Team Fundraiser: 6-day passes to the Nelson Nordic Ski Club + cozy warming gift basket
📌Best Youth Fundraiser: $100 Gift Card at Mallard's Source for Sports
📌Best Costume: $50 Gift Card at the Tickle Trunk in Nelson
Thank you to all our prize sponsors! We couldn't do it without the following sponsors: Ellison's Market, Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism, Lillie and Cohoe, Gilbert Parts, Nelson Olive Oil Co., Ainsworth Hotsprings and Oso Negro.

Get Ready Nelson!
11/20/2025

Get Ready Nelson!

🌊 Gearing up for the Nelson Polar Bear Swim! ❄️ A Fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake. Sinc...
11/12/2025

🌊 Gearing up for the Nelson Polar Bear Swim! ❄️ A Fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake.

Since 2017, the Nelson Polar Bear Swim has been proudly brought to you by Kootenay Co-op Radio, your beloved community-powered station!

Every January 1st, more than 400 brave souls gather at the lake to take the plunge for a splash of fun, courage, and community spirit.

When you dive in, you’re not just challenging yourself (and your friends!), you’re also:
💧 Recharging your body with an invigorating cold-water dip
📻 Supporting local radio and stewardship on Kootenay Lake
🌟 Celebrating the amazing community that makes Nelson so special

Ready to make a splash for a great cause?
👉 Create your fundraising profile today:
🔗 https://www.zeffy.com/.../2026-nelson-polar-bear-swim

Who saw Southern Interior last night and heard the perfectly crafted joke about the KCR Polar Bear Swim? DEFINITION: fun...
01/11/2025

Who saw Southern Interior last night and heard the perfectly crafted joke about the KCR Polar Bear Swim?
DEFINITION: fundraiser
noun - an event held to raise money for a cause

Hundreds of brave folk took the plunge this week to ring in the New Year with a scream and a splash.Even though the weat...
01/03/2025

Hundreds of brave folk took the plunge this week to ring in the New Year with a scream and a splash.
Even though the weather was great, the crowd was enormous, and spirits were high, the event only raised 40% of what it did last year.
Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society have hosted this community event for the past number of years and both of these organizations depend on the funds raised to support our programming.
We served over 80 cups of coffee, thanks to Oso Negro, and over 120 cups of hot chocolate were handed out with the help of the Kootenay Co-op Grocery store. On top of that more than 70 people enjoyed warm chili, thanks to our supers-star volunteer cook Brigitte, and Save On Foods who donated the ingredients. Not to mention the DJ tent, Nelson Search and Rescue, and of course, the Polar Bear himself.
If you didn't get a chance to make a donation at the event, please click on the link now:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/nelson-polar-bear-swim--2025?modal=true

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

Address

308 A Hall Street
Nelson, BC
V1L4Y8

Telephone

+12503529600

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nelson BC Polar Bear Swim posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Nelson BC Polar Bear Swim:

Shortcuts

Share

Category