Hundreds of hardy Canadians welcomed the new year Tuesday with a splash into icy waters at Polar Bear Dip events across the country.

About 800 participants at this year's largest charity gathering, the Courage Polar Bear Dip, stripped down to their skivvies or donned outlandish costumes before jumping into Lake Ontario in Oakville, Ont.

According to organizers, the event, held just west of Toronto at Coronation Park, first began in 1995 and has since raised a total of $1,060,000 for the charity World Vision Canada.

This year, more than $120,000 will be donated to fund water projects Rwanda.

'Start the year afresh, cleanse the soul,' says co-founder

While waiting for the dip to begin, event co-founder Trent Courage says the tradition of doing a New Year Day's dip started with his mother Gaye who "forced" him and his brother into the lake 28 years ago because she heard of a similar Scandinavian practice.

Since then, the family has continued on the tradition, with him bringing his own young sons each year to join in on the fun with hundreds of others.

John Finnie, wearing a Santa hat and beard, splashes in Lake Erie during Tuesday's New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip in Port Dover, Ont. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

"It was basically just something to do on New Year's Day to basically start the year afresh, cleanse the soul, sort to speak," said Courage, donning a bathrobe on the beach trying to stay warm.

The Oakville resident said the event brings together families and adrenaline junkies, and draws those who come dressed in costume.

Over the years, organizers have seen dippers dressed in wedding gowns, tuxedos and geisha outfits. This year was no exception, a man dressed as Baby New Year equipped with a diaper, sash and top hat and a trio of Smurf characters could be spotted in the crowd.

Courage said participants are drawn by the camaraderie of the event, but also that it's all for a good cause.

"You run in. It's exhilarating. You hyperventilate, your feet start to hurt to be honest with you but when you get changed, you start to feel amazing," he said. "No matter what, it's always very cold."

A reveller takes the plunge during Tuesday's annual New Year's polar bear dip in Herring Cove, N.S. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

Cathy Sewell screamed with hundreds of others as she charged into frigid Lake Ontario.

On Tuesday, Environment Canada reported temperatures going down to -6 C, with a wind chill of -11.

The 48-year-old Milton, Ont., woman says she had been wanting to do the dip for years and is happy to now be able to cross it off her bucket list.

"I can't believe I did it. It's very cold but I did it," said Sewell, shivering underneath a towel following the event.

"I went down (in the water) just to the thighs and I did a dip. I'm very happy. It's great."

The lively event featured live music, prize draws and celebrity guests. Local emergency crews were also on standby in the water and on the beach as a precaution.

Similar events were also held Tuesday across Canada, in several cities including Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Brooklyn dip raised funds for Sandy relief

In the U.S., off Brooklyn's Coney Island, hundreds of hardy swimmers plunged into the ice sea.

Two men during Tuesday's 110th annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club ocean swim at Coney Island in New York. (Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

Members of the Ice Breakers and the Coney Island Polar Bear clubs and other brave bathers stripped down to their trunks or dressed in costumes, including one woman donning a mermaid outfit.

Temperatures outside were around 0 C. People screamed at the shock of the cold water.

This year, Polar Bear club members and others were raising money for Sandy relief efforts. The area was badly flooded by the late October storm.

The Ice Breakers try to raise awareness of water pollution.

With files from the Associated Press