Saints are freezin’ for a reason

By Taylor Busch

Staff Reporter

Students and staff of St. Clair College gave back to the community in a big way by participating in the Ontario Law Enforcement’s Polar Plunge at the south campus on Feb. 5.

On a cold morning in February, a crowd of students and various members of the media gathered to witness a St. Clair first – ice swimming for charity.  The day started at around -14C and slowly warmed to a high of minus nine degrees around noon, just in time for the participants to jump in.  Divers were called in earlier to break up a layer of ice that had formed on the surface of the newly assembled pool while registration wrapped up.

“I was prepared for it to be cold, but when I touched the water this morning, it still shocked me,” said Const. Celia Gagnon who is also the local liaison for Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run.  “This is our first time in Windsor but it’s not my first time participating in it.  At least we have good weather for it.”

According to the Special Olympics Ontario website, funds raised through events like the OLETR’s Polar Plunge are put into programs that help more than 18,000 special needs athletes and their families afford to participate in their games each year.  Some of the costs these families incur include travelling, accommodations, meals, training and special coaches.  Because many of them are already faced with high medical and educational fees, programs that help take away added burdens, like the polar plunge, are greatly appreciated.

St. Clair’s vice president John Fairley, who did not plunge as previously suggested, instead chose to make a sizable donation to the cause.

“They came to us with this idea in the summer and it seemed like such a good idea,” Fairley said jokingly before taking the stage.  “But it’s all for a good cause and it’s something new for us, so we said we’d do it here because that’s what we do as a community college, we help the community.”

Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick also commented on the cold weather and said he was nervous to plunge.

“I have to be honest, I’m not looking forward to jumping in,” said Frederick.  “But this is giving back to some very needy and deserving individuals so it’s positive.  This is the first time I’ve been coaxed into a polar bear dip and I am looking forward getting warmed up again after it.”

To encourage participation, the St. Clair’s Student Representative Council choose to have prizes on hand to award individuals and teams who impressed the event’s judges through their fundraising, costumes and even their pool entry technique.  The panel included college president John Strasser who donated $5,000 to the cause and Windsor’s newly appointed Ward 1 Councillor Fred Francis.

Students who choose to take part in the polar plunge said they had different reasons to support it.  For St. Clair College student Greg Montgomery, he said he has always tried to help his special needs classmates whenever possible and hopes to continue doing so after he graduates.

“I’m a very social person, I want people to notice me and the cause itself is amazing so I’m happy to be associated with it,” said Montgomery.  “Just to be able to be here is great and I figured if I could come out here in costume it would be a great way to draw some attention to this great cause.”

After the last plungers were pulled out of the pool, everyone was invited to warm up inside the college lobby with free hot chocolate, chili and beaver tails.  T-shirts and other memorabilia were sold to raise additional funds and awareness for the cause.  All participants emerged from their change rooms looking refreshed.

Const. Joe Chauvin, who co-chaired the event, said he hopes to see St. Clair College host it again next year.

“It was a huge success for the students and staff of St. Clair College and a huge success for Special Olympics Ontario,” said Chauvin.  “We know approximately $15,000 has been raised so far and we still have a few initiatives happening so hopefully within a week or two we can get the final totals on our website www.polarplunge.ca.”

The next  OLETR Polar Plunge is scheduled to happen in Ottawa on February 21.