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With the Bob Vila authorized discount coupon, you will receive a $75 discount, free shipping and handling and be able to get the EdenPURE for only $49700 Available at the EdenPURE Factory Outlet: 504 Iroquois Shore Road Unit #8, Oakville www.leisureindustries.ca 5 ww (905) 815-5252 Factory Direct Slate Pool Tables We would rather sell them Real Cheap than move them Floor Models Scratch & Dents New in a Box Look at these features: Solid Mahogany Frames & Rails One Inch Italian Slate Mother of Pearl Diamond Sites Leather Pockets ALL PRICED TO CLEAR! HURRY! FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED! $1,49900 SAMPLE SPECIAL THE INVADOR SOLID MAHOGANY SLATE TABLE $2,999 50% OFF9 the windchill about minus 16. So it was a cold one but the water was warmer than the air, Todd said. The annual event the largest polar bear dip in Canada draws hun- dreds of participants and thousands of spectators as men, women and children tackle the frigid waters in the afternoon of New Years day to raise money for World Vision. The Courage Brothers are hoping to get even more people out to the event than last year, which saw 620 dippers and about 5,000 spectators on the shores of the lake in Coronation Park. Thats a bit of a challenge but I think we can do it, said Trent. People come from the GTA and southern Ontario, and there are some travelers from places as far away as Australia. The money raised at this years event will provide reliable access to safe, clean water in seven communi- ties in Tanzania. Its a fantastic opportunity to take funds from people jumping into water and we use it for water projects in east Africa, said Michael Messenger, executive vice-president at World Vision Canada and a resident of Oakville, at the preview. This year the funds are going to Tanzania, to a program there that will help about 6,000 people, including 3,000 children and help them with clean water sources that they dont have available to them. The project will also teach the locals about hygiene and sanitation. Messenger said the simple interven- tions provided by World Vision helps reduce disease in the places the organization serves. The Courage Brothers dip has been connected to World Vision for about 11 years, during which time it has raised the $660,000. A year ago Trent, Todd, their mother Gaye and Valentyne traveled with World Vision to Rwanda where they got to see the money they helped raise at work. I think it was a pretty significant event for them, said Messenger. It was fantastic to see their expressions after so many years of support, to be able to show them the families and the communities are celebrating clean water. Valentyne, who has been part of the dip for about a decade, was also invited to travel to Rwanda, to see the water projects at work. It was an honour to go to Rwanda to see how the money that theyre raising is being used and its being used for clean water, she said. It was extremely emotional to see how much the money is making a differ- ence. Valentyne is a World Vision sup- porter herself and added that the event, despite having to face the cold water and air, is worthwhile. Every year when I get up Im like Oh, my goodness, I have to jump in the lake today, how am I going to do it? But once you do it, you realize its amazing. Youre so proud of your- self. Though the December dip was a preview, for one Oakville resident it was the actual event. Jessica Holman did her annual dip earlier this year because she wont be able to be in Oakville on the actual event. She will be in Ottawa where shes attending Carleton University. She started doing the dip when she was 12 years old and this is her eighth year doing it. Ive been coming to watch many, many years before that, since before I can remember. My dads been waking me up early on New Years Day and weve been coming out just daddy- daughter dates. Thats how it got going. Her father is also her spotter dur- ing the event. Its a good thing to get involved with. Its for a good cause and its a lot of fun, she added. The event will consist of the usual fare, live music, costume contest and more. New for this year will be things such as heated tents and an education area from World Vision so people can learn more about, not only the event, but on what World Vision does around the world. When people come down here they know its a great atmosphere, Todd said. Its a carnival-type atmos- phere with all the costumes. Its a good thing on New Years day. Its a family tradition for a lot of people to come down here. The Courage Brothers also thanked the volunteers for their tire- less work, without whom the event couldnt happen. They dont have any immediate plans to stop putting on the event, but hope it will be taken over in the future. Were doing it right up until our kids take it over, Todd said. Then we can sit back and watch them. The dip began as a fun thing when the Courages mother, Gaye, chal- lenged them one New Years Day to jump in the lake if they had nothing better to do. So they did and the dip has been going on these many years. The dip takes place at 2 p.m. with an after party at the Tin Cup in Oakville, 1540 North Service Rd. W. at 3 p.m. Registration for dippers is $25, plus the pledged donations they collect. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. with the costume contest at 1:15 p.m. Registration closes at 1:45 p.m. and a grand prize is drawn minutes later. Then the dip begins. For more information visit www.polarbeardip.ca. Polar Bear Dip will help build water projects in Tanzania Continued from page 1 KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER POLAR BEAR HUG: Jim Holman hugs his 19-year-old daughter Jessica after her Polar Bear Dip Tuesday.