亚洲天堂 Lake is soon set to get its own Men鈥檚 Shed, thanks to the efforts of residents Darryl Hutcheon, Mark McLoughlin and Linda Uchacz.

The idea of a Men鈥檚 Shed in the community is receiving positive response after seeing the success of several other societies in the Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof.

The Fraser Lake and Area Men鈥檚 Shed Society (FLAMSS), which started in 2017, came to 亚洲天堂 Lake on April 8, to provide an orientation about the society and what it does.

The Men鈥檚 Shed community is a modern version of the traditional basement or garage workshop. Its idea is to increase well-being by fostering social connections, self-esteem, and healthy living. The shed is not a building but a network of relationships within the community.

All age groups from any background are welcome to join this community. It also appreciates women鈥檚 participation. The main purpose of Men鈥檚 Shed was to create a safe place for men to bond with one another. .

鈥淚t鈥檚 in the starting stages and there鈥檚 support from the community. So, we鈥檒l see how it goes,鈥� Hutcheon said.

亚洲天堂 Lake Mayor Henry Wiebe said, 鈥淚鈥檝e been thinking about starting a Men鈥檚 Shed or helping to start one here in 亚洲天堂 Lake for quite a few years, and I kind of kept an eye for location.鈥�

Mayor Wiebe was pleased with the presentation and surprised to see so much interest within the community.

鈥淲e had enough interest, and I think we will have a Men鈥檚 Shed here in 亚洲天堂 Lake. I鈥檓 not sure what the timeline would be.鈥�

Jan Fennema, FLAMSS president, firmly believes that every community, no matter how big or small, needs a Men鈥檚 Shed to help with mental healthcare.

John Stafford, FLAMSS secretary, thinks any community with senior men looking for community engagement should open a Men鈥檚 Shed. He added, 鈥淲e are supported by Northern Health, Mental Health People, and Crisis Centre BC. We also help a lot of seniors within the community.鈥�

Stafford said that to join the Men鈥檚 Shed Association of British Columbia (MSABC), one must attend meetings, look on Facebook, and talk to people within the community. He said that different communities could set their own membership fees, and the FLAMSS charges $20 a year.

He further emphasized that each Men鈥檚 Shed is different and develops its own strengths in what it wants to do. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 tell them that you have to have a woodshop or this or that. It鈥檚 basically a group of people getting together for a common cause and trying to help people struggling mentally.鈥�

New communities can also contact MSABC to apply for Men鈥檚 Shed Start-up grants, which are administered by Help Age Canada.

If anyone wants more information on how to volunteer, participate, and be part of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Men鈥檚 Shed, they can email at Darrylhutcheon@gmail.com.