ROKC Charity Fundraising

The Rideau Osgoode Karate Club's raises funds for The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) throughout the year. While the most visible charitable event hosted by the ROKC is our annual Polar Bear Dip, we do undertake other activities. This year, Janice Darlington (pictured left, wife of Sensei Ron Darlington) has donated a large number stuffed bears to the cause. Club members, their families and friends are sponsoring these bears for children staying in the hospital. All monies raised will be donated to the hospital.

Polar Bear Dip

The ROKC organizes and participates in an annual Polar Bear Dip to raise funds for The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The first annual Polar Bear Dip occurred at Mooney’s Bay in Ottawa, Ontario on January 1/1997. Many students of The Rideau Osgoode Karate Club and other members of the community participated. First into the water were Sensei Albert and Sensei Pierre (Sensei Pierre is the chief instructor of St. Mark’s Karate Club in Vancouver, B.C.).

The Polar Bear Dip was the brainstorm of Sensei Pierre Patenaude. Many of you will remember Sensei Pierre from his days training at the Rideau Osgoode Karate Club. In 1994, Sensei Pierre moved to Vancouver with his work and opened a new club. We originally thought that the Polar Bear Dip was a regular event at Mooney’s Bay. It turns out that there has never been an official Polar Bear Dip in Ottawa. We have started a new tradition — a tradition that we intend to keep for years to come.

If you would like to participate in the 2006 ROKC Polar Bear Dip for CHEO, contact Albert Ethier at 613-826-0417.

Sensei Albert with members of the Rideau Osgoode Karate Club present a cheque to The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the chosen charity of the Rideau Osgoode Karate Club.

Rideau-Osgoode Karate Club Home