Saultites channel their inner polar bear at the Bushplane

Dozens of brave locals took a chilly dip into the St. Mary’s River this afternoon as Bon Soo’s popular Polar Bear Swim took flight at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

There was no shortage of costumes and themes as many of Saturday’s participants took the cold plunge in pairs and groups.

Bruce Mines residents Michael McCormick and Sean Woudstra did the jump together this afternoon, and they say it was just as fun – and cold – as previous years.

“It’s always a great time,” McCormick says. “I like doing the cold stuff.”

“It takes your breath away, but it’s also refreshing at the same time,” Woudstra adds. “I want to keep doing it every year.”

Woudstra participated in the swim today to help support epilepsy.

“Epilepsy doesn’t hold anybody back for anything,” he says. “You just have to keep pushing forward.”

Chris Troch, a local karate club owner and polar bear swim participant, says the dive is always guaranteed to be a cold one.

“I was expecting it to be cold, and it was definitely cold,” he says. “The swim worked out better at the Bushplane than Bellevue Park, I think.”

Warming stations, food and refreshments, as well as live entertainment, were available for participants and event-goers inside the museum.

The 60th annual Bon Soo Winter Carnival wraps up this evening with a downtown street party from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on tonight’s events, visit here.