Author: Mike Jennings

A number of people, often women and even the mayor of our fair city, have said that the name should be changed to be more politically correct. I don’t think so and here is the reason why.

First off, Men’s Sheds started in Australia about in 2007 and there are now Men’s Sheds in just about every community (almost a thousand). Men’s Sheds have also taken off in Ireland, Great Britain, and New Zealand and there is a tentative foothold in Canada so it seems that Men’s Sheds fulfil a need.

The nature of the need is not apparent at first glance. Initial reactions are usually something like “why do men need a shed to go to the already have a basement full of tools they never use?” There is a lot more to it than that. Men’s Sheds are really about men’s health.

Men don’t readily belong to organizations run by others such as senior’s centres. However they are often attracted by the idea of working on neat projects in a workshop setting, especially if they feel part of a team that can accomplish things and they run it themselves. Even then the attraction may be the coffee pot and a deck of cards rather than the tools and the project. Men of all ages sometimes find themselves isolated even though a loving family may surround them. Just because a man is busy doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel isolated. The family, children, wives, siblings and parents all benefit when the man is healthy in mind and body. A Men’s Shed is a great place to look for the teamwork, industry and camaraderie that is essential most men.

Just think of it as a Women’s Institute for men.

 

Mike Jennings.
Coquitlam Men’s Shed.

As promised on Thursday evening we delivered the sticks and wood we had picked up at Kawkawa Lake. The guys at the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House were most appreciative. In turn they invited us to share a traditional Sri Lankan meal cooked by Aruna. Great food and interesting conversation. This group has someone cook a traditional meal from their culture every month. Maybe we should adopt this idea at the Coquitlam Men’s Shed.

Aruna and Lamin are going to try and make it to our meeting on Tuesday 11th. August 2015. Weather permitting this meeting will be in Blue Mountain Park, by the tennis courts. You are welcome to join us. If the weather does not permit, we will meet in Mackin House at King Edward and Brunette.

All the best.

 Mike.

It’s been a busy week or so.

Doug Mackies was able to come to our last meeting. I think of Doug as Mr Men’s Shed Canada, he started the first Men’s Shed in North America in Winnipeg. Doug’s enthusiasm for Men’s Sheds is infectious. He is also a founder member of the Coquitlam Men’s Shed.

Doug had visited with some people from the Mount Pleasant Community House in Vancouver where they have a men’s group. He suggested that they might consider making walking sticks as a way to get started with a project. Walking sticks don’t require a lot of equipment but you do need the sticks and there isn’t much forest in the middle of Vancouver so he asked us if we could provide the sticks.

We were planning to visit the Hope Men’s Shed which is situated in 20 acres of forest so we were glad to undertake a little logging.

Hope Men’s Shed is situated on Kawkawa Lake just east of Hope, beautiful. Their hospitality left nothing to be desired. We left with a trunk load of potential walking sticks and there were still a few trees standing so we have an excuse to return and harvest the rest.

While he was on the west coast Doug also visited Kirkland House in Ladner. This century old house has been renovated by a group of volunteers; they have done a spectacular job, see http://www.kirklandhouse.ca

The sticks will be delivered to Mount Pleasant this evening but we have held a few back. If you can make it to our next meeting, which is in Blue Mountain Park at 10am on the 11th August 2015, you may be able to have one for yourself.

The bottom line is, it has given us great pleasure to collaborate with these other, existing and potential, Men’s Sheds.

Mike Jennings.

6th. August 2015