Fact: Did you know that adults aged 75 and older have one of the highest suicide rates (20.3 per 100,000)? Men aged 75 and older have the highest rate (42.2 per 100,000) compared to any other age group.
What is a Men's Shed? Men's Sheds are non-profit, volunteer organizations that promote the physical and mental health of senior men. Senior men often suffer from a loss of identity while transitioning from a life-long career to retirement. Men's Sheds offer a space where senior men can create a new identity, and express who they are and what they want their lives to become. Some senior men suffer from loneliness and isolation when faced with a life without their partners due to illness or death. The reality of living alone is often devastating, especially for men who have few or no support networks available to them.
It is estimated that the number of Men's Sheds globally is approaching 3,000, operating in 12 different countries around the globe. Men's Sheds have become a great resource when travelling as they welcome other Men's Sheds members from around the world. The number of Men's Sheds is growing rapidly in Canada; there is a Men's Sheds Canada organization that works with the federal government and with independent Men's Sheds across Canada. In Quebec, we have two new Men's Sheds, one in the Eastern Townships and another in the West Island.
And what does a Men's Shed actually do? We involve senior men in community-based activities; we give them a space where they can interact with other seniors, participate in social activities, and share their hobbies and interests. Men tend to open up when they participate in shared projects, whether those projects are community-based or within the Men's Shed itself. Whatever your interests might be, there are always other Men's Shed members who share those interests. Do you have a bucket list of things you want to accomplish in your life? Do you have interests but no one to share them with? Men's Sheds open up entirely new opportunities for those seeking companionship, social engagement, and community participation.
If you are looking for something new — to make new friends, participate in community projects, go for a beer, pursue new hobbies, or learn from others, give us a call at 450-242-1088 (ask for Danny) or come out to a meeting at the Pointe-Claire Community Resource Centre in the old Valois railway station at 114 Donegani on Mondays at 6 p.m. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
For additional information, including pictures, our history, and what we have to offer in Quebec, please visit our websites: https://www.westislandmensshed.com/ and https://www.lacbromemensshed.com/.
Daniel “Danny” Williams started a Men's Shed in Lac Brome, Quebec in response to an article that appeared in a senior's magazine called "Good Times." He moved to Pointe-Claire in 2023 but soon missed the camaraderie and social interactions of the Shed. After a bit of research and promotion, Danny kicked off the initial meeting on February 19th, 2024. And so, the West Island Men’s Shed was born....