A chilly dip for a good cause: gearing up for the New Year’s Huron Polar Plunge

For the third New Year’s Day in a row, residents of Huron County will start the new year with a chilly dip in Lake Huron.

“Well, they tell me it's fun. I've yet to find the fun in the Polar Plunge going in myself, but it is a community event – and as a family event, we see families coming out and bringing their kids and everybody going in together,” said Huron Polar Plunge co-organizer Patrick Armstrong.

Armstrong came up with the idea for the Huron Polar Plunge to help raise money and awareness for the Huron and Area Search and Rescue Team (HASAR). He brought the Alzheimer’s Society of Huron-Perth to benefit from funds raised as well – and this year they will not only be helping to organize the event, but will be putting in a team of ‘chilly dippers’ for the first time.

Members of HASAR (Huron and Area Search and Rescue) and the Huron-Perth Alzheimer’s Society meet in Bayfield to discuss the upcoming Polar Plunge, December 10, 2024 (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

“I am completely flabbergasted that I have chosen to do this,” said Erin Dale, Fund Development and Communications Manager with the Huron-Perth Alzheimer’s Society.

$20,000 was split between HASAR and Huron-Perth Alzheimer’s Society from last year’s Polar Plunge proceeds.

Nearly 100 people participated in the Polar Plunge, organized by HASAR and the Alzheimer’s Society, on January 1, 2024, in Goderich (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

“The first year we had less than 30 people, and then it jumped to around 100 people last year – and so we're hoping for even more. There's over ten teams signed up already, so the more the merrier,” said Dale.

HASAR is a team of professionally trained volunteers who can be called into to assist police and fire, with things like missing persons, or high angle rope rescue, or cold water/ice rescue. Our own Scott Miller got a taste of what some of the cold-water training might look like, by donning a dry suit and wading into the chilly waters of Lake Huron on Tuesday. He survived and found a greater appreciation for the HASAR volunteers who wear drysuits on New Year’s Day, to ensure all the ‘polar plungers’ have an exhilarating, and safe kick off to 2025.

CTV News reporter, Scott Miller enters the chilly waters of Lake Huron near Bayfield in a rescue dry suit provided by HASAR (Huron and Area Search and Rescue), December 10, 2024 (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

“I know people historically have this view of everybody running in from the beach. We take safety very seriously. So it's a kind of an orchestrated event: you show up, you go in the water with your family, but our rescuers are actually in the water the whole time. So, we're aware of everybody who goes in to make sure that everybody that goes in, comes back out,” said HASAR leader Armstrong.

The Huron Polar Plunge is happening January 1, 2025, at the Maitland Marina Boat Ramp in Goderich, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

You can learn more here.