Maggie’s host successful self defence class

April 14, 2026

By Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Maggie’s Resource Centre and Tamarack group hosted a self defence class put on by Fighting Griffin North on March 26. Shelly Finigan with Fighting Griffin North and Melissa St. Pierre, executive director at Maggie’s, comment to Bancroft This Week on this self defence class and how it all went.

Maggie’s is a community based not for profit agency that provides a wide range of services from a feminist perspective to rural women in North Hastings. They provide crisis counselling, information and advocacy, transportation to a safe environment, referral to community services, court support, a counselling program to support and empower women, twenty-four-hour access to emergency support services, access to resource material and community education on issues of violence against women, men and children, including violence prevention. For more information, go to www.maggiesresourcecentre.com.

Fighting Griffin North is dedicated to the practice and promotion of traditional karate with a focus on cultivating strong character, discipline, and respect. They believe that karate is not just a sport or a form of self defence but a way of life that can help individuals develop both physically and mentally. Their club is run by experienced instructors who have trained in traditional karate for many years, and are committed to passing on their knowledge and expertise to students of all ages and skill levels, and to creating a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone who joins. For more information, go to www.fightinggriffinnorth.ca.

Finigan told Bancroft This Week on March 27 that they had a nice size group of ladies out for the class to talk about basic self defence the day before.

“We have been providing this seminar for the Tamarack group once or twice a year for the past two years. We’ve been fortunate to share similar self defense seminars with other community groups, including youth. We also facilitated a more in-depth course at Loyalist College. Each seminar or course is customized to the group and what they are looking to get out of the information. During yesterday’s seminar, we covered tactics of self defense such as being aware of your surroundings, trusting your gut when something or someone seems ‘off,’ keeping your distance or creating distance, and using your voice to unnerve your attacker or attract attention for someone to help. We practiced some ‘Get Away’ techniques and talked about other strategies to consider to keep yourself in a defensive space, such as parking your car in lighted areas of the parking lot, unlocking your car door at the last moment, changing your route if you suspect someone is targeting you, staying near exits if indoors and calling a friend or 911 if needed. The group seemed to enjoy the hour with lots to take away, practise and consider to keep themselves safe,” she says.

Finigan reveals that Fighting Griffin North has been operating in Bancroft for the past five years.

“We are proud to share our knowledge and expertise with the community in hopes that it will keep as many people safe as possible. You can also find us teaching karate to youth and adults, ages four years and above, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m.,” she says.

St. Pierre told Bancroft This Week that they had a few people turn out to the class on March 26, and that Fighting Griffin North has been out a couple of times now and that they’d also had Cody from Bancroft Grappling and Boxing teach self defence at his location a few times too.

“I think it went well overall. In the past, at both Fighting Griffin North and Bancroft Boxing and Grappling, the turnout was great and well-received,” she says. “It can be a real confidence builder.”