He asked for it, they gave it their best .
Twenty-three women, age 14 to 60, now have a better chance fending off an attacker because of a police-sponsored self-defence course they attended last week.
Among the group was Chantale Bonnier, 27, daughter of Police Sergeant Pierre Bonnier. Because Chantale attended the course, she’s given dad some peace of mind.
“I would like to think that she could now recognize a dangerous situation and defend herselfbetter,” says Sgt. Bonnier.
He adds that, as a father or a police officer he can’t be with his daughter all of the time. That’s why he wants her to be prepared.
It’s not that St-Lambert streets are dangerous, although an attack could come anywhere, anytime. More than likely it will not happen here, says Bonnier.
“We don’t have a problem here, but when you go out of St- Lambert to the Metro or downtown that’s when an attack could happen,” he says.
The two-hour course was given by self-defense expert George ManoIi, aMontreal Urban Community police officer. He provided not just theory, but practice. Each of the 23 women lunged at a padded Manoli, just for the practice of it.
“It’s good to have the knowledge, because if you are attacked, you’ll less likely to freeze in panic,” says the sergeant.
If you know what to do, defense will be an automatic reaction, one that could save your life, he notes.
He’s enthusiastic about the course even planning to offer it to school children.
The women’s course will return in the fall, details of which will be announced in the Journal.
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