Roy Reinmuth has seen first-hand how the camaraderie and sense of purpose that comes with being part of a Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed can improve one害羞草研究所檚 mental health.

Prior to moving to Salmon Arm in September 2023, Reinmuth had been involved with a BC Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed in the Lower Mainland. There, Reinmuth said he would see newcomers show up unhappy but, after a period of time, would be transformed, happy to have found an outlet for their creative energies.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of older guys, they fall into depression, they start drinking, drugs, whatever 害羞草研究所搕hey become really self-destructive because they have no outlet for that energy害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Reinmuth. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e seen it in the shed, how happy the guys are when they are together.害羞草研究所�

When he learned Salmon Arm is currently without a Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed, Reinmuth, wanting to rectify this, called Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed Association of B.C. president Mike Jensen.

Jensen shared a post on social media to provide some background about Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds and to gauge interest in Salmon Arm. From the positive response received, a public information meeting was scheduled at the Innovation Centre, 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Jensen said 害羞草研究所渃amaraderie害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所減urpose害羞草研究所� are defining words for what Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds are about.

害羞草研究所淲e find the camaraderie and friendship, and the outcome of that is we find something to do for the community, something to do for others, and that害羞草研究所檚 what gives us purpose,害羞草研究所� said Jensen.

Another key word is 害羞草研究所渞espect.害羞草研究所�

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Jensen explained the Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed movement began in Australia, as a way to improve the health and well-being of older men.

害羞草研究所淢en害羞草研究所檚 Sheds started in Australia about 30 years ago by a lady who specifically wanted to address male suicide in her community害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Jensen, noting there are now about 30,000 Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds in the world, with 100 in Canada and 50 in B.C.

害羞草研究所淚t is to address issues like loneliness, depression, PTSD,害羞草研究所� Jensen continued. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 offer any therapy or anything like that. The shed is a therapeutic space where men can share things. It害羞草研究所檚 a place where it害羞草研究所檚 easy to make friends. So men will open up.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檒l especially open up if they害羞草研究所檙e working side by side. That害羞草研究所檚 when they really start to talk to one another. This is what they kind of discovered in Australia and that is what we害羞草研究所檙e trying to emulate.害羞草研究所�

Jensen stressed a Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds is a group of men, not a physical space, though having a physical space for the group is, inevitably, a goal.

害羞草研究所淭he Vernon Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed, they have a fabulous, 5,000 square-foot workshop with meeting space for their coffee and tea, etc., and beautifully equipped, and they害羞草研究所檝e been able to do that害羞草研究所� with a lot of help from people who want to see a men害羞草研究所檚 shed thrive,害羞草研究所� said Jensen.

Prior to having its own space, Jensen said the Coquitlam Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed members were quick to utilize their skills and talents to support their community.

害羞草研究所淏efore we had our shed we were able to build some garden beds for the local homeless shelter and actually look after the garden for them 害羞草研究所� so they got fresh produce for the shelter,害羞草研究所� said Jensen, adding Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds will often collaborate on projects with other community service groups like Rotary.

For Reinmuth, a journeyman blacksmith, a crucial role of Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds is the outlet they provide for men to share and pass along their skills to younger generations.

害羞草研究所淲hen I started my apprenticeship, one of the first things I was told was the skills and knowledge we are teaching you are not yours, they are for you to use during your lifetime, but you have to pass them on to the next generation害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� explained Reinmuth who, upon becoming part of a Men害羞草研究所檚 Shed, saw a vast amount knowledge and skill shared by men in need of an outlet, an opportunity to share and/or put their talents to use.

害羞草研究所淲ith one little sentence, one little pointer to an apprentice or young journeyman害羞草研究所� they might save that young man 40 years of pain,害羞草研究所� said Reinmuth.

While it is common for women to play a role in setting them up, Jensen said Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds are for anybody that identifies as a man and are open to all ages. (Jensen noted Women害羞草研究所檚 Sheds are also growing in number.)

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people that are part of Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds are seniors, and it害羞草研究所檚 certainly true seniors are the backbone of most Men害羞草研究所檚 Sheds, but it害羞草研究所檚 for all men and no skill required 害羞草研究所� but pretty much everybody has something to offer,害羞草研究所� said Jensen.

For more information, visit bcmensshed.ca.