‘it’s amazing’ — record number take icy windsor polar plunge
hundreds of brave souls took an icy outdoor dip in down...
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even royalty participated in the polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor on friday, feb. 28, 2025. here, princess elsa — who knows a thing or two about being frozen — takes the plunge into the frigid pool.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
hundreds of brave souls took an icy outdoor dip in downtown windsor for special olympics ontario friday night — more than ever before, organizers say.
organized by the windsor police service, the 11th annual windsor-essex polar plunge had about 320 people sign up to jump into a frigid above-ground pool outside the downtown aquatics centre.
“it’s amazing,” said melanie kish-lewis, co-chair of the polar plunge committee. “we’re pretty excited about it and just having a great day.”
as of friday evening, kisk-lewis said the event had raised nearly the $80,000 total fundraising goal for the year.
keeping their socks on ahead of an icy winter dip, windsor police auxiliary officers take the polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor on friday.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
before diving into the pool head-first, windsor police chief jason bellaire told the star he enjoys doing the event every year.
“it sounds strange, but i do look forward to jumping in,” bellaire said. hitting the cold water is “not as bad as people think — it’s actually usually never even the worst part of my day.”
‘not as bad as people think.’ that’s what windsor police chief jason bellaire said before diving head-first into an icy pool for the polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor on friday, feb. 28, 2025.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
ward 3 coun. renaldo agostino was another return customer. he told the star that while outdoor temperatures were relatively warm — around a balmy 8 degrees celsius on a february evening — “it doesn’t matter. the pool is freezing cold.”
ward 3 coun. renaldo agostino takes the polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor on friday, feb. 28, 2025.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
alongside the plunge itself, the downtown windsor business improvement association presented polar fest, a celebration of winter around the polar plunge pool, with food trucks, local vendors, kids’ activities, and music.
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several dozen people sat in bleachers set up next to the pool
since the inaugural local event in 2015, more than 1,200 plungers have participated in windsor-essex. all funds raised support the law enforcement torch run for special olympics.
last year, polar plunge events across the province raised $1,030,000 for special olympics ontario, which supports programming and events for 23,000 athletes.
special olympics provides developmental, recreational, and competitive sport programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
local swimmers enter chilly water during friday night’s polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
nothing like a refreshing dip in the pool — a representative from the canada border services agency clears cold water from his eyes at the polar plunge for special olympics ontario in downtown windsor on friday, feb. 28, 2025.
taylor campbell
/
windsor star
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