Senior Sector Spotlight: Men’s Sheds Edmonton
“Building Communities Through Connection” - A Senior Sector Spotlight on Men’s Sheds Edmonton
Written by: Breanne Harrison
In most cases, one would define a “shed” as “an outdoor storage space.” Rarely does anyone imagine a community of men drinking coffee with laughter hanging in the air. Contrary to what the name may suggest, a Men’s Shed is not a literal shed. Rather, it refers to any designated meeting place of Men’s Sheds Edmonton. Morris Reid, the current Chairman and President of the Southeast YEG Shed, tells us this one summer morning. We look through the photos he brought to show us, which illustrate the many activities that occur in a shed. Some photos show handmade crib boards, which Reid’s shed donated to the Kenilworth Crib Club. Other photos feature wooden doghouses with insulated walls and detachable roofs, which were donated to Second Chance Animal Rescue Society.
It may be the life within the shed that people would find hard to imagine. While a physical shed may be rather small, a Men’s Shed exceeds the limitations of all walls. Reid tells us of the community-building that occurs within these groups. “It’s a place where guys can meet, have coffee, make friends, learn new skills, and work on community projects together,” he says while pointing at a singular man in a group photo. “Punch Jackson started Men’s Sheds Edmonton in 2018, with the vision of incorporating more sheds in the area. We encourage healthy activities, communication, and sharing skills with each other.”
He pauses, moving his finger away from Punch and towards the older men in the photo. “Some guys can lose their social network. Especially when they retire.” Reid felt inclined to get involved to try and help others get re-acquainted with being active members of a social group. “I think I saw a need for this in the city. We have a lot of aging guys that have lost their connections with other guys.”
Staring at the multiple smiling men in this photo, we ponder this vision for a moment; men of all ages, laughing and sharing the stories of their lives. Sunlight warms their skin while they enjoy homemade cookies. After the first hour, they will head into the workshop and share new skills with each other, for one is never too old to gain new experiences and impart their own knowledge to others. It is a scene that Reid has seen many times.
Men’s Sheds combats one of the most considerable threats within our communities—social isolation. “We've had a couple of guys socially prescribed to come to Men's Sheds, and they come on a weekly basis now,” he recounts as the sunlight grows brighter. They have been talking with link workers in the Social Prescribing program to make sure that men find the right shed for what they want.”
Some men have enhanced their woodworking skills, the smell of woodchips permeating the shops they work in. Some men have learned the intricacies of acrylic paint, coloured brushes against the canvas as a local artist guides them through a painting exercise. Some men have even learned the perfect coffee to creamer ratio, as they prefer to do nothing but sip their drinks and talk about their lives. Each of these activities depends on the shed, as the members themselves decide. There are no agendas or itineraries; it is simply casual fun.
Men’s Sheds is a grassroots mental health movement that recognizes the importance of social interaction for one’s wellbeing. While we may not be able to hear the whirring of a table saw through Reid’s photos, we can see the light in the smiles of the men, for they have found a place to come together and do what they love.
To find out more information about Men’s Sheds, visit one of the following websites, or feel free to send an email.
Alberta Men’s Sheds Association
Website: https://albertamenssheds.ca
Email: albertamenssheds@gmail.com
Men’s Sheds Edmonton
Website: https://mensshedsyeg.ca
Email: mensshedsedmonton@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MensShedsEdmonton/
Men’s Sheds Canada
Website: https://mensshedscanada.ca
Building connections builds better communities!
Breanne Harrison is the 2024 Communications Assistant summer student at the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC). She is an emerging Edmonton-based writer entering her fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alberta, where she is studying English and Creative Writing. Breanne applies her creative writing skills to her role at ESCC by writing and preparing the Seniors Sector Spotlights and their accompanying profile articles.
Outside of writing for work, her works of both poetry and prose cover many topics and themes, with inspiration drawn from personal experience and social, political, economic, and ecological issues. When Breanne is not writing, reading, or working, you can find her playing card games, tap dancing, and spending quality time with her family and friends.