Special Olympics athlete 26 year old Cole Carlson, is set to be a featured participant as momentum builds for the 2026 Dufferin Polar Plunge, taking place March 29th, 2026, at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne.
Cole has lived in Mulmur his entire life, and graduated from Orangeville District Secondary School in 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown. Special Olympics has played an important role in Cole’s life, offering him community, friendships, and the opportunity to compete as part of a team.
The 2026 Polar Plunge promises to be a standout event. It remains the only indoor plunge in Canada, taking place at center ice inside the arena. As part of the lead-up to the event, a challenge has been issued to Dufferin County Council to have a representative from each municipality take the plunge.
This year’s event will feature a Canadian-themed costume contest, with categories for:
Best Team Costume
Best Individual Costume
Best Special Olympics Athlete Costume
