In a small island community like Grand Manan, the phrase “it takes a village” isn’t just a saying—it’s a way of life. Cars lined the road down to Stanley’s Beach on Friday as dozens of islanders gathered to watch Kyle Mawer take his daily plunge into the chilly Bay of Fundy. A group of teachers and students from the local school, including exchange students from Prince Rupert, B.C., joined Mawer in the close to freezing temperatures of the bay in late March, many staying in the water for the entire three minutes of the challenge.

Mawer set out with a bold goal at the start of 2025: to jump into the ocean every day for 100 days to raise money for the local food bank. 

"January first, like a lot of people, I started the New Year off with a bang and started with a cold plunge," said Mawer. "And after a few days, I had the idea that I'd like to turn it into a fundraiser. So I thought 100 days sounded like a crazy amount that would turn some heads and get some donations for the food bank. So here we are, 87 days later, and we're going strong with a pretty sweet crowd here today."

Zoe Parker from Action Ministries of Grand Manan, the organization that runs the local food bank, knows firsthand the impact Kyle’s efforts will have.

"Everything did increase in price. So in 2023, compared to 2024, we had a 25 % increase in just clients," said Parker. "But with that, obviously, cost has went up, and with more clients, the cost went up as well. So with him doing this, it helps big time, and it creates awareness, too, which is amazing."

Mawer’s original fundraising target was $5,000, but as he nears the end of his challenge, he’s closing in on an incredible $15,000 in donations through his GoFundMe page. Parker says these donations will go a long way to help islanders in need, many of whom also need assistance covering necessary medical trips to the mainland.

The support for Mawer’s initiative has been overwhelming, with word travelling beyond the island thanks to Mawer’s daily videos that he shares on social media. This past Sunday, he made the trip to St. Andrews, where locals who had heard about his initiative gathered at the Bar Road to take the plunge with Mawer.

"It's been a huge support Grand Manan, but also there's been people all over Canada and actually United States as well donated to this," said Mawer. "I saw a donation from Montana, some people from Calgary and St. Stephen, and obviously heaps of donations here."

At a time when the world often feels more divided than ever, Mawer’s story is a powerful reminder of what community spirit can accomplish. In places like Grand Manan, neighbours help neighbours. And thanks to Mawer’s willingness to literally take the plunge—many islanders will have the help they need when they need it most.