Polar Bear Challenge

Jumping in for a good cause

Christian Rochefort

This is what 51 teams did during the second annual Polar Bear Challenge held at the Casino du Lac Leamy on February 14. Participants enjoyed beautiful weather with temperatures hovering around freezing, a stark contrast to last year's -30°C, according to several participants.

The Polar Bear Challenge, which involves jumping into the icy waters of a lake or river, is organized in several Quebec cities by the Course au flambeau des agents de la paix (CAF) – Peace Officers' Torch Run – an organization working worldwide. In Gatineau, the organization is in partnership with the Gatineau Police Service (SPVG).

The goal was to raise funds for Special Olympics Quebec, and a cheque for $56,697 was presented to the organization, exceeding the $55,000 target set for this year.

The teams were composed of police officers, paramedics, border services officers, members of the Hull Regiment, as well as members of the French Gendarmerie assigned to the French Embassy in Ottawa.

Several prominent figures, including the Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer, Greg Fergus, and the Deschênes district councillor, Caroline Murray, participated in the challenge for the cause. The director of the Gatineau Police Service (SPVG), Simon Fournier, also took the plunge.

The organizers are surely thinking about the third edition in 2027.