The growing Men's Sheds movement is providing a vital lifeline for Canadian men experiencing isolation, offering community connection and practical projects to improve mental well-being.
From Australian Idea to Canadian Reality
The Canadian chapter of this international movement began with a daughter's concern for her father. In June 2008, Lisa Mackie attended a conference in Saskatoon where she learned about Men's Sheds from an Australian woman. Worried about her 68-year-old father Doug living alone, she immediately shared the concept with him.
"Of course, I always do what my daughters tell me to do," Doug Mackie said with a laugh about taking his daughter's suggestion seriously. However, establishing Canada's first Men's Shed proved more challenging than either anticipated.
Building Community Through Shared Projects
Men's Sheds are community spaces where men regularly gather to socialize and work on projects based on their interests—from woodworking and metalworking to cooking, IT support, or bicycle repairs. These projects are often donated to schools or community organizations, providing valuable service while creating bonding opportunities.
The real benefit extends beyond the physical projects. Men's Sheds specifically combat the sense of isolation many men experience after retirement, offering a grassroots approach to improving physical and mental health for a demographic facing higher rates of depression, divorce, and suicide.
Modest Beginnings to National Movement
Mackie started by advertising among Winnipeg seniors' groups and arranging meetings at a local community centre. Weeks passed before Dave Friesen became the first participant. "I was so excited, I could have hugged him," Mackie recalled. "Instead, he taught me how to play cribbage."
The Woodhaven Men's Shed officially launched in January 2011 with just three or four members. Today, the movement has exploded across the country with more than 170 Men's Sheds operating throughout Canada, and the network continues expanding.
Academic research conducted in Australia, Europe, and Canada has consistently found positive health benefits for participants. Many men initially attend at the urging of wives, partners, or—like Mackie—their daughters.
"Once they pop in and try it out, they often keep coming back," Mackie noted. The program has gained such recognition that some healthcare providers and counsellors now issue social prescriptions recommending Men's Sheds attendance to improve patients' overall well-being.
