Polar Bear Plunge- better late than never

Feb 25, 2015

For those adverse to the idea of plunging into an icy Sharbot Lake in February, reversing the old adage of “better late than never” to “better never than late” might fit the bill more. But that was not the case for the 32 Polar Bear plungers who leapt from the docks of the Sharbot Lake Marina on February 22 into the frigid waters below at the Frontenac Heritage Festival's fifth annual Polar Bear Plunge.

The Plunge was originally scheduled for February 15 but had to be rescheduled due to bitterly cold weather that day.

Paddy O'Connor and Janet Gutowski emceed the event and announced the winners in a number of categories. Head Polar Bear Mark Montagano, who heads up the Plunge, raised the most funds ($1300) and Liberal party candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Philippe Archambault and his wife Melanie, who were dressed to the nines in the Liberal party colours, together raised $1020. Art Holloway raised $870 and by the end of the day a total of $8,000 was raised.

The proceeds from the event will fund numerous local causes, which include programs at the Child Care Centre, the school council at Granite Ridge and the Alzheimer's Society.

This year’s Plunge brings the total raised by the event over five years to close to $40,000.

Other plungers recognized this year included hula dancer Linda Harding-DeVries, who won for best costume. The youngest plunger was 11-year-old Osten Gibson who joined his dad Darren, and the oldest plunger was Karen Burke.

The event continues to attract more and more plungers every year and Mark Montagano made mention of the many key players whose efforts allow the event to take place. They include Bill Young and his team of fire fighters and paramedics; Richard, Gill and Dawn of the Sharbot Lake Marina; staff of Central Frontenac Township; Cox Bus Lines and of course the many brave plungers and their enthusiastic supporters.