Feb. 10, 2020

With a cautious, feet-first approach, a team of brave Wilfrid Laurier University administrators jumped into the icy water of the outdoor plunge pool at University Stadium on Feb. 8 as part of the Special Olympics Ontario second-annual Polar Plunge fundraiser hosted by Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Laurier’s ‘Stay Golden’ team members Deb MacLatchy, president and vice-chancellor; David McMurray, vice-president: student affairs; Sheldon Pereira, chief of staff; Adam Lawrence, dean of students: Brantford campus; Peter Baxter, director, Athletics and Recreation; and Zemar Hakim, president: Students’ Union, raised $1,286 for Special Olympics Ontario, exceeding their $500 goal.

Laurier, along with the City of Waterloo, is an official Games Partner for the Special Olympics Ontario 2020 Spring Games May 21-23. Laurier will host the powerlifting, basketball, and swimming competitions, as well as create an Athlete Village to host all participants.

Volunteer at the Spring 2020 Games

Volunteers are needed to support more than 2,500 athletes, coaches, staff and spectators who will be visiting Waterloo Region. Laurier faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to volunteer for the following roles:

• scorekeeping and timekeeping
• referees and lines people
• venue set-up and tear-down
• opening and closing ceremonies
• hospitality

Visit the Special Olympics Ontario website to learn more about volunteering for the spring 2020 games.

Special Olympics Ontario is a national organization dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. Police services throughout Ontario have hosted the games since 1996. This year marks the first time Waterloo Regional Police Service will host the games.