
The 43rd annual Polar Bear Swim in White Rock drew hundreds of participants Tuesday afternoon, and even more onlookers. The good weather, coupled with the not-too-cold temperature, made this year's swim one of the best in recent memory, according to White Rock Lions Club president Ed Alps, an organizer of the event. "The weather was just awesome, it was beautiful and it was just great," he said. Alps said around 400 people registered for the event, but there were more who went in the water on their own accord, making it difficult to pinpoint the number of participants. "We can't estimate the number that went in," he said. "There were over 400 that signed up but it could be twice that (who) actually went in." Alps also noted it was the first swim that didn't involve Don Miller, the longtime event organizer and Lions Club member; Miller died in September. "We missed Don Miller - he passed away in September and he did this for over 40 years," said Alps. "However, his family was there too, so they were still carrying on his tradition."
