THUNDER BAY – A record number of participants took part in this year’s PDR Thunder Bay Polar Bear Plunge, raising a whopping $168,550.
That’s more than double their $75,000 target, said Maggie Ferrence, the 2025 campaign chair, adding the totals raised year after year – now more than $1 million – continue to astound each and every time the event is held.
It’s incredible, Ferrence said on Thursday, moments after the fundraising results were unveiled.
“It means the world to us. We go into this with just the expectation that if we can hit our goal, we’re happy with that,” Ferrence said. “Then the community of Thunder Bay just comes out and really shows us what we’re all about.
“It’s been amazing that people continue to support this event. We had 215 new plungers who plunged for the first time this year and we have businesses challenging each other and it makes the event that much more special.”
Not only are businesses and schools challenging others businesses and schools to see who can raise the most money, there’s also competition within companies.
Domtar set the perfect example this year.
Their operations division raised more than $18,000, the single largest total by any group, and their woodlands division, who challenged operations to take part for the first time, added another $14,000-plus to the pot, the second most money raised.
Shanna Walters, the regional engineering superintendent at Domtar, said it was an impressive effort on the part of her company.
“Domtar loves giving back to the community. It’s one of our core values, and an event like this, that was so well organized and so fun, made it a great team bonding experience. It was very impressive to see our clients, our suppliers, our friends and our family just come together to help us achieve that goal,” Walters said.
The key is getting someone very convincing to ask the rest of the staff to take part.
“You take the highest position person in the region and then they ask – and then they have to say yes,” Walters said, laughing.
Money raised by the record 432 plungers supports four charities in the community, including the Thunder Bay branch of Special Olympics Ontario, CNIB, Roots Community Food Centre and PRO Kids.
Rob Neff, a volunteer with Special Olympics, said such a large sum can have a huge impact.
“It’s great to see community support and be a part of all of that,” Neff said. “What these funds will do is provide our athletes with an opportunity to travel for competitions. Special Olympics Thunder Bay has by far and away the biggest travel expense of any chapter in the province. Without the support of events like this, we wouldn’t be able to get our people to competitions.”
Planning is already underway for the 2026 event, when Ferrence said they are hoping to create more of a festival atmosphere, with food trucks and a slide into Lake Superior. The date is set for March 29, 2026.
The top individual fundraiser was Domtar's Terry Ouellet, while the top school team was the Westgate CVI Ti-Brrrs. The spirit award went to Thunder Bay CAS Jolly Jumpers and the Heroes with a Cause trophy was given to 18 Service Company.
