INNISFAIL – A growing male movement has begun in town that works with a comforting two-sentence mantra that “Men don't talk face to face. They talk shoulder to shoulder.”
And in doing so they have a real chance of discovering within themselves new and exciting opportunities for growth and happiness if life finds them lost after retirement with too much time on their hands and even battling periods of isolation, loneliness, and depression.
With support from the local Community Partners in Action, which includes Alberta Health Services, Wolf Creek Primary Care Network, the Town of Innisfail, and Innisfail Family & Community Support Services, a new chapter of Men’s Shed has formed in town.
Men’s Shed is a movement that started in Australia in 2007 as a way to improve the health and well-being of older men. It has since expanded globally to more than 3,000 sheds in 12 countries.
Its purpose is to support men who come together to find ways to remain productive and contribute to the community, which can then give a boost towards better overall health.
“It can help me stay motivated, so I just don't get sucked into staying at home watching television. It’s not a counselling group. It’s an uplifting group,” said Charles Silk, a new member and lead of the Innisfail Men’s Shed.
Silk, who is 64-years-old and soon to be retired, is credited by the Community Partners in Action in helping get the local Men’s Shed up and running and open to all men. He’s convinced it can have enormous value for all men who are transitioning in life.
“There is a big tendency of men to die off sooner and to become isolated and not really enjoy retirement,” said Silk. “I certainly intend to enjoy mine by developing hobbies and making sure that I get out. As soon as you do, the world changes just like that.”
Ellen Helgason, recreation therapist for Alberta Health Services, said the launch of Innisfail’s new Men’s Shed is being financially supported by a $25,000 grant from the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program.
The grant will go towards helping the group with start-up costs expenses, including tools and supplies for projects, during its first year.
Innisfail’s Cornerstone Flooring & Renovations has also donated space to the group to meet and work on community projects.
The first Innisfail Men’s Shed meeting was held on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., with ones following on Oct. 11 and 18. Beginning in November, meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. There are no fees charged to new members.
“It’s definitely an open door for men who want to work collectively together and support each other, have coffee and a really nice time together. It's that safe space where they still have that opportunity to connect,” said Helgason, noting there’s no age requirement to join the Innisfail Men’s Shed.
“We're hoping, depending on what the men would like to do in the future, part of that (connection) might be guiding our youth who need a strong male influence,” she said. “That is up to the men. They have to decide what works best for them, what their projects are and how they want to run them.”
And working together can be the right tonic for men who find themselves sensing a loss of purpose.
Nathan Mahoney is facilitating the start of the new Innisfail Men’s Shed. He has worked with other men before this project and knows well what can happen inside recently retired men, and how that can be turned around towards renewed fulfillment.
“We get a lot of socialization as men (when) working with other men. That's been a large part of our identity for a long time. I think when that changes it can be a real struggle for men,” said Mahoney.
“Helping with that loneliness, giving a place for someone to connect and even giving some opportunity for them to volunteer in the community is really important.
“The wonderful thing about Men's Shed is that it's very fluid in the sense it can be what the community wants. If someone comes in and says this is what I'd be interested in doing and other men are interested in that, that's the direction we go. It's really just an opportunity for people to come together and find common interests, common projects and be able to talk with one another.”
For more information on the local movement go to the Facebook page MEN'S SHED, INNISFAIL.
