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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, January 7, 2016 | 16 It takes Courage Polar Bear Dip to help in Africa More than 800 dippers braved below-freezing temperatures to ring in the New Year at the 31st annual Courage Polar Bear Dip in Oakville Friday, Jan. 1. Adventurous dippers of all ages joined dip founders, Todd and Trent Courage at Coronation Park for this year's plunge into Lake Ontario while thousands of spectators cheered them on from shore. A live band and the annual costume contest were highlights of the event, with dippers notably dressed as Star Wars characters, Santa and Olaf. This year's event raised more than $130,000 in support of World Vision's clean water projects in Rwanda, bringing the lifetime total the event has raised to well over $1.4 million. "Year after year we meet on New Year's Day to go for a dip, and save lives by bringing clean water to more people around the world," said Trent in a press release issued after the event. "We're overwhelmed that every year, for over 30 years, dippers have joined us for this exhilarating experience and to make the world a little bit better than it was yesterday." Those who were unable to participate in the longtime Oakville New Year's tradition but still wish to make a donation can visit www. polarbeardip.ca for more details. Pictured at right, Gaye Courage (whose challenge to her sons Todd and Trent years ago was the beginning of the annual event) and her grandson Von Courage, exit the water during the Courage Brothers annual Polar Bear Dip held at Coronation Park New Year's Day. The dip saw around 800 people in attendance and over $130,000 was raised. At right, partcipants exit the water quickly. For more photos, visit http://www.insidehalton.com/ oakville-on. | photos by Jayson Mills - special to the Beaver Sensational Chocolates, Handmade Locally 1011 Upper Middle Road East, Oakville · 289-291-0147 www.walkerschocolates.ca Pictured above, partcipants prepare to enter the water as the dip gets set to proceed. At right, participants exit Lake Ontario's chilly waters with a variety of expressions on their faces. For more photos, visit http://www. insidehalton.com/oakville-on. Leaky Basement? Call Us! · Crack Injection Repair Specialist · Wise Dry Interior Drain Systems · Lifetime Fully Transferrable Warranty · Masonry/Parging Repairs Parents and community invited to provide input on delivery model of English and FSL programming Parents/guardians and community members are invited to provide input regarding the delivery model of English and French as a Second Language (FSL) programming. From January 6 to 29, 2016 an online questionnaire will be available on the Halton District School Board website at www.hdsb.ca To learn more about the Halton District School Board's current challenges concerning this issue, refer to the information posted on the website. Call Us... Professional, Cost Effective Solutions 905-510-9739 for Wet Basements wayne@wisecracks.com w w w. H a l t o n Wi s e C ra c k s. co m Winter disCoUnt $50 off on tHe 1st foUndation CraCk and 10% off any joB over a $1000 Promotion runs from December 1st, 2015 till February 29th, 2016.