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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, December 15, 2016 11 6 Courages' Dip will dive into Canada's 150th by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville's Trent and Todd Courage have lived up to their family name as founders of the annual Polar Bear Dip. And on Jan. 1, 2017, they will summon that courage and jum p into Canada's 150th year with big hopes, lots of friends and warm clothes nearby Taunched 32 years ago, the Courages' annual New Year's Day tradition has drawn thousands of people into the icy waters of Take Ontario and raised more than $1.4 million for World Vision clean water projects. Held at Coronation Park, money collected on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 will support initiatives in Rwanda, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania. This year, the brothers' dip -- Canada's largest -- and a truly Canadian adventure, will honour Canada's 150th birthday Dippers are encouraged to wear red and white or classic attire when entering the lake. Todd and Trent are hoping to raise $150,000, the largest amount for a single dip, if reached, to put its total support to World Vision at more than $1.5 million. "Titerally, Jan. 1 is the first day of the 150th year and this is a great way to ring it in. It is truly a Canadian event," said Trent. Canada has always been "proactive" in assisting others across the globe, Todd said, Oakville's Trent, left, and Todd Courage will be hosting the annual Courage Brothers Polar Bear Dip Jan. 1, 2 0 1 7 in Coronation Park. The annual event, the largest of its kind in Canada, raises money for World Vision's clean water projects globally. | Metroland Media noting the importance of supporting World Vision clean water projects. "On our 150th birthday, what better way to start this off than by helping other countries?" he asked. "We jum p in the water to provide water to other communities. That's how the whole thing rolls through." "This is one thing that has not grown tired for us. What excites us more than anything else is not only has it not grown tired, but our family, our kids have now came in as the next generation to bring life to it," said Trent. "Even if they didn't exist, our passion for this would still not falter." Recognized as Canada's largest charity dip, Todd and Trent created the Courage Polar Bear Dip as teenagers and first jum ped into the lake in Burlington. They're "very humbled" with the response it has generated since the dip moved to Oakville 20-25 years ago, Todd said. "It's been very substantial for us. I'm just happy the way it has grown to be where it is right now," he said. As a local, and beyond tradition, people would gather at Coronation Park Jan. 1 to "jum p in the water on their own," Trent said, whether or not there was an organized event. "That is a tribute to the number of people who just repeat, repeat and repeat, but there are always new people every year who join," said Trent, noting 60-75 per cent of participants are regular dippers, while newcomers account for the remainder. "Eventually, other people join who weren't part of it 20 years ago, TO years ago, five years see Volunteers on p.18 B e y o n d K i t c h e n s &B a t h S jd ^ e c ta tio n sy o w w w .b e y o n d k i t c h e n s .c a Design Build fully C U S T O M nsta kitchens, vanities, wall unit, mantle, walk in closet, laundry room, Bar, etc; · Granite, Quartz countertops · Full renovation service · Real estate service; Q EW S p e e rs R d O akV ille Show room Location 466 Speers Rd,Unit 6-7 Oakville, ON L6K 3W9 Lake Shore T: 905-338-8999 / 905-338-8199 info@beyondkitchens.ca F: 905-338-8099 *Trades, realtors, builder programme available, please ask store for details;