from left, Matthew Doherty, his dad Dennis, and brother Adam.

Article & Images by Sue Dickens

UPDATE: Thanks to residents Bruce and Betsy Thompson who matched the donations bringing to the total to well over $20,000. Bruce is also a longstanding member of the hospital Foundation’s board. The Auxiliary’s commitment to the hospital for 2022-2023 was to purchase a $40,000 defibrillator for the emergency room and they have done it!

Campbellford - Today’s 31st Annual Polar Bear Plunge was perfect! It returned to an in-person event but virtual plunges were also permitted. The temperature hovered around 0 degrees and so the plungers didn’t have to jump through a hole in the ice because the river was ice free except for along the shoreline in spots.

The fundraiser is held every year by the Auxiliary to Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

from left, Earl McLean, was the DJ, something he has been doing for years. He stopped for a moment long enough for us to take a photo of him with the Trent Hills Acting Fire Chief Shawn Jamieson

A good crowd of spectators joined the Trent Hills firefighters who were on site to keep everyone safe.

We spotted Mayor Bob Crate in the crowd but he didn’t take the plunge. Mind you neither did we as the reporters remained warm in their winter woolies.

We shared stories with DJ Earl McLean reminiscing about the years past when he can remember it being -19 and even worse with the wind chill but the plunge went on.

In 2021 and 2022 the plunge was virtual because of the pandemic. But it returned in 2023 with a vengeance. The ‘fun’draiser attracted dozens of plungers, including the Prosts who sent in a video of their plunge.

This year, as in the past, two heated schoolbuses were on site where the plungers could change and get warm. And the Trent Hills municipal works staff had prepped the whole area for the event.

The actual plunge lasted about 25 minutes max, as per usual.

The Auxiliary Polar Bears were on site too collecting donations for the hospital.

Here are a few more photos from today.