A councillor in White Rock, B.C., who uses a wheelchair has made arrangements to enhance accessibility for the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim. Susan Bains has coordinated the installation of a wheelchair-accessible mat leading directly to the frigid waters at White Rock Beach on January 1. She has also partnered with a local disability advocacy group to provide beach wheelchairs for those interested in participating in the event.
The New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim at White Rock Beach, a tradition that originated in Vancouver and has spread across B.C. and beyond, draws thousands of participants annually. Bains expressed her motivation for facilitating accessibility to the event, emphasizing her desire to demonstrate the possibilities and fulfill a personal aspiration predating her wheelchair use.
Prior to her election to council through a by-election this year, Bains advocated for an accessibility mat along the iconic White Rock Pier. For the upcoming Polar Bear Swim, the accessibility mat leading to the water is being supplied by Motion, an accessibility consultancy firm, according to Bains. She anticipates that the improved accessibility will result in a higher turnout for the event.
Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo, a local disability advocacy organization, is contributing beach wheelchairs for the Polar Bear Swim. The organization stated that it had previously donated a beach wheelchair to the City of Surrey for use at Crescent Beach and provided one to a resident in White Rock to address access limitations. Additionally, two beach wheelchairs are available for donation to a municipality or organization willing to manage them for community use.
Bains’s advocacy efforts were commended by the Polar Bear Swim organizers in a Facebook post. Registration for the event begins at 10:30 a.m. PT on January 1, with the plunge scheduled for noon. Participants can also take advantage of a warming tent and enjoy hot chocolate during the event.