Service brings self-defence training opportunities for students in the new year.
The SafeWalk service is committed to helping students keep safe in and around the George Brown College campuses.
This new academic year, in addition to their regular walk accompaniment services, SafeWalk will be bringing various training opportunities for students to learn how to keep themselves safe.
Chris Yalousakis, coordinator of SafeWalk said, “I think there’s a greater need for students to feel safe on campus and when they’re walking home or in their daily lives especially if you’re not totally familiar or comfortable with Toronto. So having these skills and these trainings might give you a little bit more peace of mind and comfort.”
Students identifying as women can participate in Wen-Do women’s self-defence workshops at any of the three campuses in the month of September. The workshops will be three-hour long each and will take place at Casa Loma campus on Sept. 25, at Waterfront campus on Sept. 27, and at St. James campus on Sept. 29.
“Wen-Do has actually been at George Brown before, and it was offered by George Brown College, but it was the full course. To get certified in that, you did have to take the course over several days, and that might be a little bit more challenging for students. What we want to do is to bring some basic self-defence techniques so students can get some ideas of how to protect themselves.”
There will be more workshop sessions in November. Details will be announced soon.
Another training opportunity that SafeWalk is bringing for students is the Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviour (UMAB) training. The training will be over two days on Oct. 28 and 29 at Casa Loma campus.
“You’ll learn about the continuum of aggression, and how you can actually see somebody getting aggressive, how you can blunt that aggression so that it doesn’t get worse, and then bring them back down again,” said Yalousakis, “There might be aggression in some areas of people’s or students’ lives. It might be at a job or on the street or who knows where, and this would be a good help.”
Around 30 students will be able to participate in the certified training for free. Interested students who are unable to sign up for the October training can avail themselves of the opportunity in December.
SafeWalk is also bringing back the two-day first-aid course for students. This course will take place over the weekend in September and November at Casa Loma.
Students can stay updated on registration links through SafeWalk’s social media pages and through www.studentassociation.ca.
Registered students who do not show up for the training without canceling their registration 48 hours ahead will not be allowed to attend future training or workshops with SafeWalk for up to six months.
Students can avail regular SafeWalk services on weekdays between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. at the various campuses. With the reopening of the 200 King. St building at the St James Campus, SafeWalk will be in the lobby of the building in addition to their existing location at the Hospitality building.
SafeWalk will also have a webinar for students to learn more about its services and programs on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. All links and registration details will be available through www.linktr.ee/safewalk.
