Author: Mike Jennings

Collaboration is a natural outcome of belonging to a Men’s Shed. For example look at these three Shedders working together. The back story is that someone pointed out that they were all at the Shed on Valentines evening. They put their heads together and came up with a solution.

Doug reports that this little heart saved him the cost of a dozen roses easily justifying his membership dues.

Here we have Robert showing off the first product to come off one of our lathes. It is a small mallet.

Unfortunately Robert got the wrong idea. Maybe something to do with translation.

After about 60 hours of research and development we have completed the prototype of what we hope will be our first product. This spring we hope to complete the pre production prototype with production slated to commence in the third quarter (unless we have a cup of tea).

Not Mohammad, he made the thing (I don’t know what to call it). The thingy is hanging in the doorway behind him. Now we have to figure out how much the market will bare.

Due to a number of happy accidents the Shed is coming together nicely. We have acquired quite an array of tools. I hope that you had intended to make the donation.
We also have a mighty vise (or should that be Vice? Probably).

We have been recycling anything that we can make a bench or a shelf (I hope that wasn’t your fence).

We also welcome Jack, Ian, Dave and Mohammad who became new members this month.

What could we do if the doughnuts didn’t get in the way?

Happy February. If you order soon you could get one of those nice thingies to give to your sweetheart for Valentines Day (maybe).

On January the 7^th. 2019 we signed the lease with the Red Door Housing society. We now have a great space in a great location in a great community with a great collaborator (although Cooper doesn’t seem impressed). 

Some high priority details were attended to.

Continuing in the long tradition of Coquitlam Men’s Shed, one member works while two watch.

A 6” joiner has been donated and a table saw is close behind.

The Shed is now open on Tuesdays from 12 to 4pm and Fridays from 10 to 4pm.

Check the events page for updates.

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Several years ago a First Nations friend used this quote by Albert Camus and it has resonated with me ever since. After about 4 years we are finally at the end of the beginning, Coquitlam Men’s Shed Society has a humble home. It had not occurred to me that organizing something so much needed, costing so little and so effective would take about 4 years to reach this point. We have finally made it and this quote has become even more meaningful.

I first read about Men’s Sheds in the Vancouver Sun and realized that it was an organization that I needed. The contact in the article was Doug Mackie so I contacted him only to find out that there were few Men’s Sheds in Canada and none in my neighbourhood. He encouraged me to form one and about 4 years later here we are, about to move into our new Shed. Thanks Doug.

Over those years I have read about Men’s Sheds success in Australia, Ireland, Great Britain, New Zealand and elsewhere, about 2,000 worldwide. My original interest was access to a workshop of some kind (I live in a small apartment) but quickly learned that there is much more to a Men’s Shed than the workshop. A Men’s Shed is really about men’s health and there is a place for everyone, not just skilled craftsmen. I learned that independence is an important aspect of a Men’s Shed and I liked that. The Coquitlam Men’s Shed has evolved into a happy, diverse but cohesive group ready to take on any challenge that fits our skills and has a loosey goosey time line.

The quote that my friend used fits the character of our Shed perfectly.

Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.

Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

The Coquitlam Men’s Shed Society owes thanks to the many allies that have accompanied us along the path so far including Doug Mackie, Simon Fraser Health, The Red Door Society the counsellors of the City of Coquitlam and special thanks to Mayor Richard Stewart who, because of his hands on work for the community, was able to connect us with our new host.

Look out, here we come, you are welcome to join us.

It is looking seriously like we have found someone who is willing to host our Shed (one wonders if they realize what they are getting into).

There is a room that we can use for meetings, lunch and not so messy projects.

Including a nice kitchen-

Then there is the potential workshop-

When we started consulting about the space at the restaurant some had a hard time visualizing the space so they started to measure the restaurant-

We may have to find another restaurant for next week’s meeting.

Inactivity report for November 2018.

In an attempt to see if any of our members have any talent whatsoever it was decided to try drawing.

The results follow.

If there is a psychiatrist out there who can analyze the results Coquitlam RCMP may be interested in your observations.

Can was a little high.

Pierre was all at sea. Not bad considering Pierre is blind. The 1918 reference has to do with Neil who claims to have been a member of Coquitlam Men’s Shed since 1918.

Doug 2 modeled for several sketches. This one bears a remarkable resemblance. Artist unknown.

Some of our members have a remarkable imagination, some not so much.

This one is beyond description. I think Doug 2 needs to explain himself.

A painted ship upon a painted ocean. Doug 3

Clearly this member is a bit low, better keep an eye on him.

While we were busy at work our waitress knocked off this sketch of us. Pretty easy to pick everyone out. Great the way she was able to make us all look 10 years younger, slimmer and intelligent. Thanks Sue.

We had been meeting with members of Coquitlam City Council enlisting anyone we could as allies in our mission to develop the best Men’s Shed in the country, right here in Coquitlam. One of the councillors suggested that we might want to meet with the Raincity Housing Society, they run the local transitional housing development. Not wanting to leave any stone unturned we soon arranged a meeting and were glad to share the purpose of the Men’s Shed. It turned out that they have a small vegetable garden and they were in need of someone to volunteer to look after it. Coquitlam Men’s Shed stepped forward and here are a few photos.

 

For many of us looking after this small garden has been the highlight of the year. Now that it looks like the summer is finally over (end of October in Canada), it is time to clean up and get ready for next year. That included consulting with the staff about how things went this year (well) and what we may be able to do better next year. This year we maintained the garden by dropping in as it was convenient for our members. Next year we are going to be on site at fixed times, this may make it easier for the residents to more fully participate with us. A win win. We like that.

Mike & Doug installing an air filtration unit in Doug’s Garage, where we also worked on Men’s Shed projects.