It was a beautiful day for a dip in Lake Couchiching for some brave Orillians who decided to plunge into the freezing water Saturday.
Veteran jumper Infiniti Landry was one of the seven people who participated in the Orillia Winter Carnival’s annual polar bear dip, which drew many spectators to the wind-swept lake on a sunny afternoon.
“I wanted to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters Orillia (BBBSO),” said Landry, 9, who has been doing the polar plunge since she was five.
Carnival committee volunteers cut out a large square of ice on the shore of Lake Couchiching, about six-feet deep, next to the government dock, where Orillia firefighters were ready to give anyone support if needed.
Volunteers handed out towels as participants shivered after emerging from the cold water and carefully slipped and slided toward dry and stable ground to make a run for the warming buses ready to receive them.
Infiniti got hooked when she first jumped into the chilly water four years ago with her mother, Amanda Landry.
“It’s great she does this,” said the Ramara resident. “It’s refreshing to see that someone so young is thinking about others.”
This year, Infiniti wasn’t the only young one thinking of others. Sam Burns, of Orillia, ventured into the frigid waters for the first time.
“I heard it was going on and I thought it would be fun to do and give something to charity,” said the 10-year-old. “I felt excited and worried that I would get really cold.”
And even though he did end up getting colder than he had imagined, he said he would probably come back next year.
Even though only seven participants took the dip this year, the $750 or so raised in support of the 360 kids helped by the agency is always appreciated, said James Maxwell, executive director, BBBSO.
“We raise one-hundred percent of our support through events like curling, hockey and bowling that’s coming up in April,” he said. “We’re hoping everyone will continue their support and come out and help us there. Every dollar raised stays in the community.”
Maxwell said the agency has seen an increase in the number of kids benefitting from its programs in recent years, growing from 220 to 360 kids being served in the Orillia and area.
“It’s a good thing because people have got trust and confidence in our programs,” he said. “The unfortunate reality is that there’s only so much that we have to go around, so we would do more if we had more. Unfortunately, we’re at a point right now where we’re doing more with less.”
Support given to the non-profit through events, such as the polar dip and Bowl for Kids Sake, or through volunteer assistance, said Maxwell, helps BBBSO continue to prove itself to the community.
The polar bear dip was just part of a jam-packed two days of Winter Carnival activities. For more on the rest of the winter carnival, check back tomorrow morning!
