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

Prior to moving to Salmon Arm in September 2023, Reinmuth had been involved with a BC Men鈥檚 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.

鈥淎 lot of older guys, they fall into depression, they start drinking, drugs, whatever 鈥搕hey become really self-destructive because they have no outlet for that energy鈥�,鈥� said Reinmuth. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen it in the shed, how happy the guys are when they are together.鈥�

When he learned Salmon Arm is currently without a Men鈥檚 Shed, Reinmuth, wanting to rectify this, called Men鈥檚 Shed Association of B.C. president Mike Jensen.

Jensen shared a post on social media to provide some background about Men鈥檚 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 鈥渃amaraderie鈥� and 鈥減urpose鈥� are defining words for what Men鈥檚 Sheds are about.

鈥淲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鈥檚 what gives us purpose,鈥� said Jensen.

Another key word is 鈥渞espect.鈥�

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Jensen explained the Men鈥檚 Shed movement began in Australia, as a way to improve the health and well-being of older men.

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

鈥淚t is to address issues like loneliness, depression, PTSD,鈥� Jensen continued. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 offer any therapy or anything like that. The shed is a therapeutic space where men can share things. It鈥檚 a place where it鈥檚 easy to make friends. So men will open up.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l especially open up if they鈥檙e working side by side. That鈥檚 when they really start to talk to one another. This is what they kind of discovered in Australia and that is what we鈥檙e trying to emulate.鈥�

Jensen stressed a Men鈥檚 Sheds is a group of men, not a physical space, though having a physical space for the group is, inevitably, a goal.

鈥淭he Vernon Men鈥檚 Shed, they have a fabulous, 5,000 square-foot workshop with meeting space for their coffee and tea, etc., and beautifully equipped, and they鈥檝e been able to do that鈥� with a lot of help from people who want to see a men鈥檚 shed thrive,鈥� said Jensen.

Prior to having its own space, Jensen said the Coquitlam Men鈥檚 Shed members were quick to utilize their skills and talents to support their community.

鈥淏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 鈥� so they got fresh produce for the shelter,鈥� said Jensen, adding Men鈥檚 Sheds will often collaborate on projects with other community service groups like Rotary.

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

鈥淲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鈥�,鈥� explained Reinmuth who, upon becoming part of a Men鈥檚 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.

鈥淲ith one little sentence, one little pointer to an apprentice or young journeyman鈥� they might save that young man 40 years of pain,鈥� said Reinmuth.

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

鈥淎 lot of people that are part of Men鈥檚 Sheds are seniors, and it鈥檚 certainly true seniors are the backbone of most Men鈥檚 Sheds, but it鈥檚 for all men and no skill required 鈥� but pretty much everybody has something to offer,鈥� said Jensen.

For more information, visit bcmensshed.ca.