Peggy Revell
New Year’s arrived with an icy splash here as dozens took a leap into Rainy Lake on Friday afternoon for the Voyageur Lions Club’s annual “Polar Plunge.”
“We were down in numbers and were down in money, but were not down in spirit,” said club member Val Martindale, adding there was “lots of enthusiasm and lots of new jumpers” this year.
More than 40 people took the leap into Sand Bay, behind La Place Rendez-Vous, as onlookers lined up along the government dock to show their support.
In total, $13,585 was raised for various community clubs and programs.
“It was fun,” said first-time jumper John Piotrowski who, having moved from Ottawa to Fort Frances, hadn’t seen the plunge in previous years.
“Nothing really [made me want to jump], I just wanted to do it,” explained the 13-year-old, who was raising money for the local St. Mary’s Youth Group.
“It sounded cool to do it.
“Once you get out of it, it’s really cold but then afterwards, it’s not that bad,” Piotrowski added.
“The really cold part was my feet, and that was it.”
“This is my first time, and it was good, I guess. I was excited and everything,” enthused 12-year-old Julia Quast, who jumped alongside her brother and dad to raise money for the Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
“It was really cold, and then when I got out, it was kind of hard to breathe at first because, I guess, just the shock.
“But then it was really cold—not nice and warm,” she recalled while warming up back inside the Rendez-Vous with a bowl of chili.
“My dad did it last year and I was considering it,” Quast explained about why she participated this year. “And I don’t remember telling him that I was going to, for sure”
“Yes, you did!” chimed in her dad, Rev. Jacob Quast, who last year took a second leap into the lake after egging on the crowd for more donations.
“But he signed me up,” his daughter continued. “So, yeah, I might do it next year again, too.
“I had a good time, it was fun.”
Decked out in his “crocodile hunter” gear and with a huge inflatable croc, Australian David Filleul continued the tradition of participants coming from far and wide to take the local “Polar Plunge.”
Filleul currently lives in Calgary with his wife, who is originally from Fort Frances, and he jumped to raise money for the Riverside Foundation’s BIPAP fundraiser.
“When I met my wife in Australia, she told me about it, and I said I’d do it back before I ever came,” he noted. “And this is the first time I’ve ever been in town for New Year’s Day.
“It was a lot colder [than I expected],” he admitted. “I’ve been in cold water, but I’ve never been in that cold of water.
“I’ve flat-water kayaked, and it was cold, but this is even colder.
“We don’t have any ice, there’s no frozen lakes in Australia, anywhere,” Filleul added. “I had no idea you could drive a car on ice.”
“We really thank those people that came out because it was really cold out there today,” said Martindale. “This is the coldest day we’ve had.
“It was great, wonderful,” she added. “Thanks to everybody that contributed and thanks to all our sponsors.”
The top individual fundraiser this year was club member and event founder Jim Martindale, who raised $1,810. Decked out in his trademark red long johns, he was the final person to take the plunge for the day.
The top group fundraiser was the Muskie Sports Association, which took home $1,175 for its cause.
Dressed as a scarecrow this year, Maureen Hahkala once again captured the prize for best costume.
Second place was awarded to Filleul’s “crocodile hunter” costume while Marina Jewell came in third for dressing up head-to-toe as Batman.
Participants represented—and raised money for—a variety of community groups, clubs, and causes, also including Special Olympics, Knox United Church Group, Ronald McDonald House, the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts, the Sunset Country Squash Club, and Dancemakers.
Also taking part were the Borderland Snowmobile Club, the Fort Frances Aquanauts, and the Muskie girls’ basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading squads.
