Brockville first responders, Special Olympians to take the Polar Plunge for a cause

With the support and assistance of the Brockville Fire Department and Dive Brockville Adventure Centre, the Brockville Police Service will host this year’s Polar Plunge on March 8 at 11 a.m. at Centeen Park, in support of the Special Olympics. 

Cst. Allie Dedekker has been assisting in organizing and hosting the event since 2022. Polar Plunge Ontario directly assists the approximately 23,000 athletes with the Special Olympics annually with 34 plunges around the province.

“In Brockville, we give back to our local chapter with all the money raised. Last year, we raised over $1,000. Also, last year our fire deputy, police deputy and our local Paramedics union representative challenged one another to see who could stay in the water longest, all making it to around the 16-minute mark.”

Unlike in years past, where Brockville police have only had first responders jump, this year they have opened this opportunity up for members of the public and Special Olympians to jump into the St. Lawrence River at Centeen Park as well.

Dedekker shared with Brockvilleist, “It is important to maintain that positive police and community relationship. Having members of our community see police in a positive way and giving back can only make our community better and stronger as a whole.”

She continued, “We do more than just events like the Polar Plunge and the Torch Run. Officers will often play scrimmage games with our local Olympians every couple of months. I find that at any community events that the Brockville police host, many community members really look forward to them, for example, Movies in the Park every summer, or Kids, Cops and Fishing.”

Dedekker is looking forward to once again seeing all the smiling faces and seeing how much money the community can raise together. “Every year, I have tried to evolve this event and make it better…Special Olympics specifically is a very special organization to me, as I have a son who has special needs, so having the ability to give back to an organization like this is more than just part of a job.”

You can donate or register online today to plunge with a purpose and get #FreezinForAReason at https://polarplunge.ca/