For Immediate Release: November 18, 2024
EDMONTON, ALBERTA: On November 20, Men’s Sheds Canada (MSC) presents a webinar featuring Australian researcher Dr. Barry Golding, widely recognized as a global authority on the Men’s Shed movement and the author of The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men (2015) and Shoulder to Shoulder: Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement (2021). The session will address evidence-informed research on the positive health impacts of Men’s Sheds, compiled through Professor Golding’s books and research publications, and will introduce Men’s Sheds Canada’s research agenda.
Originally founded in Australia in the 1990s, the grass-roots Men’s Shed Movement now operates across more than 15 countries, including Canada. Recognizing the role Sheds play in supporting men’s mental health, federal governments in both Australia and Ireland now include significant grant funding for Shed development and sustainability in their health and aging policies.
“Having spent much of the last two decades researching men’s health and well-being through the Men’s Sheds movement in Australia and the UK, my goal is to extend the findings to other nations where these issues are recognized as a problem, particularly for men who are isolated for any reason,” says Golding. “I’m heartened to see the momentum that is taking hold in Canada.”
Canada’s first Men’s Shed launched in 2008 in Winnipeg. Today there are more than 130 autonomous Sheds operating in 10 provinces, with provincial Men’s Shed associations in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Men’s Sheds Canada (MSC) was formed in 2022 to strengthen and grow the Shed movement across Canada, and with new multi-year funding from The Waltons Trust, is now making ambitious plans to reach 1000 Sheds by 2032.
As men age, major life changes such as retirement, widowhood, or divorce often result in social isolation and loss of purpose that can adversely impact mental and physical health. Research indicates older men experience higher rates of depression and are at increased risk of suicide, as these conditions often go undiagnosed. Men’s Sheds have a vital role to play in supporting men through their aging journeys at the community level.
“On the surface, a Men’s Shed is a group of men who get together to work on projects and make new friends,” says MSC Board President Robert Goluch. “But for many men experiencing loneliness and depression, the local Shed is a lifeline that leads to transformative relationships, renewed purpose and well-being.”
In partnership with leading gerontologists, academic institutions, and health agencies, MSC is committed to conducting ongoing Canadian research on the positive social health impacts of Men’s Sheds, with a view to informing and supporting the adoption of evidence-informed healthcare policies.
“With the anticipated growth of the Shed movement in Canada, MSC is poised to become a driving force for innovation within our men’s health sector,” adds Goluch. “This simple, grass-roots concept is at the forefront of addressing pressing issues around men and social isolation .”
WEBINAR DETAILS: REGISTER HERE
Title: Connection. Camaraderie. Community: Lessons from the Men’s Shed Movement
Date and Time: November 20, 2024: 6 pm ET; 4 pm MT; 3 pm PT.
Featured Speakers:
- Dr. Robert Goluch, MSC President
- Dr. Barry Golding, AM
- Dr. Andy Tamas, MSC Vice President and Research Committee Chair.
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About Men’s Sheds Canada (MSC):
Vision: A Canada where every man feels valued and engaged in his community, experiencing purpose, belonging and well-being in his aging journey.
Mission: To grow and strengthen the Men’s Shed movement in Canada.
About Barry Golding: Professor Barry Golding is a widely published adult and community education researcher with Federation University Australia and international expert in men’s informal learning in community contexts, inclusive of Men’s Sheds. He was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 in recognition of his “significant contribution to tertiary education as a researcher and author, to professional organizations and to the community.” Golding has over 100 international research publications. He is an honorary patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association and former President of Adult Learning Australia.
Media Contact:
Jill Javet
B: 587.735.1587 ext. 9 / C: 416.230.6869