Todd & Trent Courage talking to Domenic
Schullo of CityTV in 1992
Every year hundreds of people jump into the
cold icy waters of Lake Ontario at Coronation Park in Oakville, Ontario on
New Years' day.
Some do it to try something a little over the edge, some do it to bring in
the New Year, but they all do it to help
World Vision Canada.
Net proceeds for the event have
been going to different World Vision water projects around the
world since 1995 and over $430,000 has been
raised in total.
Check out our
channel for clips from dippers
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2009
|
$55,000
raised for Kahi, Rwanda
At 1:59pm on
January 1 2009, Tom Cochrane led the 5000+ crowd at Coronation Park in a
countdown as 450 dippers prepared to dip into Lake Ontario. Thanks to
those brave dippers, the enthusiastic spectators, our fantastic
corporate sponsors and over 60 volunteers, we were able to raise $55,000
for the Kahi Water Project in Rwanda.
The money raised will help provide a dependable source of clean
water for the people of Kahi in the Umutara region of Rwanda. By
drilling new wells and building reservoirs, the project will
bring safe water close to the people who live in the community. The new
water system will reduce the suffering caused by drinking dirty water
and save children hours of wasted time, which can now be spent at
school.
Trent and Todd visited the Kahi
Water Project in Rwanda with World Vision to see how the funds have
helped the community. The money raised in 2009 funded the first half of
the project and we hope to raise another $60,000 at the 2010 event to
fund the second half.
Jennifer Valentyne from CityTv
joined the brothers in Rwanda and shot some amazing footage:
Jambo from Rwanda |
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |
Waiting for Clean Water |
Avasta
Click
here for
a full review and pictures.
2008
|
$60,000
raised for South Darfur, Sudan
It was a cold and snowy New Years
Day in 2008 but that didn't stop 400 dippers and 5000 spectators
from coming out to Coronation Park and helping us surpass our goal
of $40,000. At the end of the day, over $60,000 had been raised for
water projects in South Darfur, Sudan.
The project will help reduce water-borne disease for
7,000 people in eight villages in Edd al Fursan by providing clean
water with new borehole wells and hand pumps, restoring clean water
with repairs to damaged wells, building 20 latrines, promoting good
hygiene practices and establishing and supporting local Water and
Sanitation Committees.
The 2008 event received some added attention as Rick
Mercer filmed a segment for The Rick Mercer Report throughout the
day. The episode aired on January 15 2008 and can be seen
here.
Click
here for
a full review and pictures.
2007 |
$40,000
raised for Kandiaye & Saré Yéroyel COMMUNITIES IN Senegal
In 2007, the warmest water we've had (4C!) was
braved by over 450 dippers as over 5000 spectators watched and
cheered. These brave participants, the enthusiastic crowd and our
generous corporate sponsors helped us reach our goal. We raised over
$40,000 for the Koukané Water Project in Senegal.
The Project will help provide a safe, dependable source of water
for over 1,300 people in one of Senegal's most impoverished regions.
A borehole well with solar pump will be built, along with a ground
reservoir, offering a safe, central source of water to sustain eight
surrounding communities. With fresh, clean water, residents will be
able to grow vegetables throughout the year, increase their food
supply and income security, and improve the health and well being of
the entire community.
Click
here for
a full review and pictures.
2006 |
$35,000
raised for the Masima community in Kenya
In 2006, mild temperatures brought over 400 dippers and 5000 spectators
to Coronation Park who helped us reach our goal of $35,000! Funds raised
went to the drilling of a bore hole and the laying of over 14 kilometers
of water pipelines in the Masimba community in Kenya's Kaijado district.
Click
here for
a full event review and pictures.
2005 |
$60,000
raised for Tsunami relief
In 2005, 500 dippers and over 5000 spectators helped us
raise over $60,000 for tsunami relef. Due to the Boxing Day earthquake that
sparked tsunamis and unimaginable disaster causing
deaths of over 120,000 people, all net
proceeds from the 2005 event were donated to World
Vision Canada's efforts in south Asia. The Federal
government matched all donations made to tsunami relief
so
approximately $120,000 was raised for World Vision.
Click
here for pictures.
2004 |
$20,000
raised for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Zambia and Uganda
In 2004, the great weather helped bring in 450 dippers and over 5000
spectators. People arrived early to enjoy the music of Whaling and
helped us raise over $20,000! Click
here
to view pictures.
2003 |
$20,000 raised for Zambia, Uganda, Costa Rica and Nicaragua
In
2003, we had 320 dippers and over 4000 spectators who helped us reach our goal
of $20,000. For more about the day click
here.
2002 |
$20,000
raised for children in Afghanistan
In
2002, over 3000 spectators watched as over 300 Polar Bears Dippers took the
plunge in 1 degree water. Almost $20 000 was raised to help
Afghani
refugees. It helped protect them from hunger and a bitterly cold winter.
2001 |
$20,000
raised for Nicaragua, Honduras and Tanzania
In
2001, a storm on December 29th, caused panic to the organizers where tons of snow hit the lake at Coronation Park.
It was the first time the event may have been cancelled. However, on New Years Eve day
and New Years day, six volunteers
with jackhammers, axes, pick axes and shovels worked eight hours to dig an entry
and an exit to the lake. Luckily everything worked out and 236 dippers, took
the plunge while close to 3500 spectators witnessed. A little under $20,000
was raised for World Vision.
2000-1996 |
Over $100,000
raised for water projects in developing countries
The Courage brothers discuss the history of the dip in
World Vision's Childview Magazine.
Click the image to read the article |
