Members of the Brant County OPP, Brantford Police Service and Six Nations Police Services took a dip into ice-cold water to help raise money for Special Olympics Ontario during the Brantford-Brant Polar Plunge on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Over 100 people all gathered outside of North Park Collegiate to watch the community Polar Plunge experience.
During the event, about 70 participants jumped into a large metal bin filled with ice-cold water, and with the air temperature sitting around minus 3 degrees Celsius (minus 11 Celsius with the wind chill) the task was no walk in the park.
Insp. Andrea Quenneville, Detachment Commander for the Brant County OPP, Chief Jason Saunders of the Brantford Police Service, and Jim Kruis, community coordinator for Special Olympics Ontario, were the first three people to brave the cold.
Saunders, who’s participated in three pre-plunges including one at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area on February 5, said the temperature was surprisingly cold.
“We did a pre-plunge a couple weeks ago at Pinehurst and I’ve got to say, this was one colder,” said Saunders, with a laugh.
Saunders added that he was happy to see so many of his officers come out to support such a great cause.
“This year’s event has an extra special meaning because our region is hosting the Summer Games this July and the whole point of today is to raise money and awareness for that,” he said. “I know the Brantford Police team, led by the children of two of our officers, have raised over $11,000, which is huge. I think this is also the most officers we’ve had from BPS and we have civilian staff that went in as well so it’s just great to see.”
One-by-one, the rest of the participants including local athletes, officers, educators, businesses and organizations, took turns plunging into the water before hopping out and rushing to get warm in a nearby hot tub.
Brant Opp Cst. Jonathan Bueckert, Law Enforcement Torch Run coordinator for the OPP, who over the past few weeks organized and participated in seven pre-plunges said that he was happy to see so many people supporting the cause.
“Having all the students, the people from Special Olympics Ontario and the officers out here today was just awesome and so I’m very pleased with this turnout,” he said.
When asked what his favourite part of the day was, Bueckert said that there was one participant in particular who struck a cord with him.
Robert Jr. Ryczak was just 17-years-old when he was involved in a serious water accident back in 2014 and during Thursday’s plunge, Bueckert told the audience that this was the first time the now 27-year-old Ryczak was getting into the water since his accident.
“That is the ethos behind what we do,” said Bueckert after the event. “Robert went through personal growth; it took him ten years to get back in the water, but he was here today and it was just incredible.”
Ryczak’s parents, Dianna and Robert Sr., said it was amazing to watch their son take the leap.
“It was totally his idea to do it, he came home one day from powerlifting and said ‘I think I want to do this,” said Robert Sr. “It’s been amazing to see him grow and the Special Olympics has really turned his confidence around.”
“It was amazing to see, I’m just so proud of him,” added an emotional Dianna.
Bueckert also announced that so far they’ve been able to raise 74 per cent of their $50,000 goal.
“All proceeds from this event are going to support the Provincial Summer Games which are coming to Brant County, the City of Brantford and Six Nations this July,” he said. “With our final cash donations, without donations in-kind, we’re at $36,000 which is pretty awesome.”
As of Sunday, March 9, the total was sitting at $36,865.
For those who are interested in supporting the cause, donations can still be made by visiting: https://soopolarplunge.crowdchange.ca/90869/donate
As well, if anyone wants to volunteer for the provincial games, Bueckert said they can do so by reaching out and emailing LETR@opp.ca
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
