A newly formed national Men’s Shed association has a very Squamish connection and a lofty goal.
The Canadian Men’s Shed Association (CMSA) will aim to create and establish up to 1,000 new sheds across the country in the next 10 years, according to a news release.
The organization is committed to advocating for more sheds, sourcing funding and resources, and advancing the health and well-being of older men.
“Men’s Sheds are locally driven groups of men meeting to support one another, build relationships, learn new skills and give back to their communities,” said Squamish’s Robert Goluch, the newly elected first president of the CMSA, in the news release.
Goluch called it a "real honour" to be at the helm of the newly minted national organization.
Locals may recall that Goluch helped to organize and host the inaugural provincial Men's Shed Conference in Squamish in October of 2021.
“Loneliness and isolation result in serious health risks. The benefits of joining a Men’s Shed … can have a huge impact on someone’s mental and physical well-being," Goluch added.
Men are three times as likely to commit suicide compared to women, according to the federal government.
Currently, there are more than 50 established Men’s Sheds across Canada, with about 20 being located in B.C., including the Squamish Men's Shed.
The Men’s Shed concept started in Australia in 2007 but has since expanded to other countries. Globally there are over 2,700 in 15 different countries, which were created over the last 20 years.
The first Canadian Men’s Shed started in Winnipeg.
The first board of directors for the CMSA has representatives from B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
The board recently met in Vancouver to develop a plan to start on its “ambitious goal.”
The Squamish Men’s Shed is located at the newly built Westwinds housing complex for seniors on Third Avenue behind the Chieftain Centre.
For more information about the Squamish Men’s Shed, please visit the website SquamishMensShed.ca.
For more on the national organization, go to MensSheds.ca for more.
