Join our Men's Shed program
Our Men’s Shed program is up and running! The Glastonbury Community League with the kind support of Saint’s Church launched the West Edmonton Men’s Shed program in fall 2022.
The Mens Shed program is a great place for men of all ages and backgrounds to gather together to work on community, craft or personal projects—and while doing so to create shared connections and purpose with other likeminded individuals.
Our Men’s Shed program meets the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the workshop in Saint’s Church. This location at 6315 199 Street is conveniently located just off Anthony Henday Drive at 62 Avenue. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost to participate.
The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia in the late 1990s, and has spread internationally— particularly in the UK, Ireland and Canada. There are now almost 2,000 Men’s Sheds around the world and about seven Men’s Sheds in Alberta alone. The Men’s Shed is an inclusive, non-judgmental place for men to gather to hang out and develop relationships with each other. There is no expectation to have a specific skill. For more information visit www.mensshedscanada.ca.
Men’s Sheds address the reality that men tend to only make connections at work—and if they are retired, not working, working from home, on disability, or just plain busy, they have limited ability to form social connections. The pandemic further increased the sense of social isolation that many men have experienced over the last few years.
Participants in our Men’s Shed program have worked on projects including using repurposed pallets to make composting bins for a new community garden, and building book boxes for the GCL’s Little Library program. The Men’s Shed will also be building raised planter boxes for a community garden. Participants are also welcome to work on their own projects. To mix things up, we will also be looking to host guest speakers on topics such as men’s health.
We also welcome program sponsorship and support through the donation of construction materials, building and crafting supplies, paint and finishing supplies, tools and equipment—or funds to be put toward snacks and refreshments.
The West Edmonton Men’s Shed welcomes all interested individuals to come out and join us. There is no cost to participate and no previous experience necessary. To get involved, please contact Brian at enw@gclyeg.com.
The Men’s Shed is not a health program, but your health and wellbeing may improve by coming out!
Please note that the Men’s Shed program will run until June 2023 then take a break for the summer and resume in Fall 2023.