Yves Belanger, Servir

Corporal Rebecca Garand, of the 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, was delighted with her showing at the Canadian powerlifting championship that took place on March 8 in Ottawa. She is now the strongest female Quebecker in her class.

She explained that she came in 8th out of 20 participants in the women’s 84 kg+ weight class. “I didn’t expect to achieve such great results because at most I put in 60% of my maximum on the bench because of my shoulder injury. Plus, I was by far one of the lightest in the class.”

She said she beat her personal record of 392 lb (178 kg) in the squat event. “I managed to lift 402 lb (182.5 kg). That weight is a long-time goal of mine,” she proudly declared. In doing so, she broke the provincial record for the women’s 84 kg+ class in the squat and deadlift. “I am therefore the woman who can lift the most in Quebec for those two lifts and overall.”

She says she is now focusing on healing her shoulder injury. “I plan on putting everything into coming back in shape for next season.”