The city's most extreme winter activity turns 10 years old when the new year kicks in.
The annual polar bear dip held at Ness Lake Bible Camp every New Year's Day now has a decade under its belt. They hope to celebrate with the wild applause of extra shivering and the chinging of cash registers.
The event is both a rite of passage for those embracing life, and a fundraiser to benefit youth mentorship.
"The money goes to our summer team bursary," said Ness Lake Bible Camp's Dave Horton, one of the event's main organizers.
"It is our way of rewarding the excellent volunteers we have in the summer, running the kids' camps. It is not just for everybody, the bursaries go to the best of the best, those who consistently put campers' needs before their own, show that spirit of service - the best cabin leader, the best support staff, the best out-of-towner - and the quality of those volunteers is what makes the campers' experience when they come stay here."
The goal this year is to raise $10,000 for their 10th anniversary. That is a significant target compared to previous years, but Horton said that the event has proven itself a favourite part of the region's winter personality.
With the end of the calendar decade as well, he hopes people will feel motivated to turn a new page, explore their own zeitgeist, invest in one's own renewal, and do something that will always be a punctuation mark in any life.
One can bungie jump at a number of places, you can skydive with little difficulty, but you can only polar dip once a year, so Horton advises marking the date on the calendar now.
He also wants to see a big crowd come out to support the dippers.
"Even just coming out and viewing it helps the event," he said.
For those taking the plunge, there is a hole sawed through the thick Ness Lake ice, there are members of the Ness Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Prince George Search and Rescue securing the area in full dry-suit gear, there is hot cups of coffee and hot chocolate waiting in the lodge alongside the famous sticky buns that everyone devours once the event is over, and there are hundreds of supporters and well-wishers all around lending inspiration and celebration for those who dive in.
It is recommended to have at least one person waiting there with dry clothes and a warming blanket once you emerge from the icy baptism, although many simply splash in, pop their shoes on and head for the warm hall overlooking the event.
"We have huge prizes this year compared to other years, so the competition should be fierce. We have some pastors who are challenging each other at the money-raising, some church rivalry going on," Horton said.
The event is open to all regardless of beliefs or levels of faith. Organizers are just happy to share such a defining moment with those brave enough to add this to their list of life's adventures.
There is a nominal entry fee - $20 - but if you raised that much in pledges beforehand, the fee is waived. Also, the first 50 to sign up get a free T-shirt, and you can't get the commemorative 10th anniversary shirt unless you actually do the dip, making it a well earned collector's item.
Pledge forms and general information is available at www.nlbc.bc.ca and donations of more than $10 are tax deductible.
