Law enforcement from all over southwestern Ontario teamed up with St. Clair College students and staff to take the plunge for Special Olympics Ontario.
Over 100 people watched as police officers defied temperatures near the freezing mark, stripped down to bathing suits and participated in the second annual Polar Plunge on the college's main Windsor campus. The event drew officers from the Windsor, Lasalle and Amherstburg police services as well as the Ontario Provincial Police.
Proceeds from the plunge will be donated to the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Ontario. The first event, in 2015, raised over $32,000 but Essex OPP Constable Jim Chauvin said they have already surpassed last year's total.
"We initially set it for [$10,000], then for [$15,000] and we're already over [$20,000]," says Chauvin. "I know with our corporate sponsors we're probably close to the $35,000 mark already."
Some St. Clair College students and staff also jumped into a specially-built pool of cold water that had been set up near the main campus building's front entrance. A few wore bathing suits while others wore thermal swimsuits and even dressed in superhero costumes. Just inside the main doors, tables were set up for the sale of items as well as refreshments.
The Polar Plunge was a warm-up to a community event that will be held at the College on Saturday.