Men who are interested in getting together with other men to socialize, make new friends and get involved in activities are invited to an information session in Dunnottar to learn about Men’s Sheds Manitoba and how to form their own shed.
Age Friendly Dunnottar chair Althea Howard said her group is hosting the session Saturday morning at the Ponemah Beach Central Art Centre building. Representatives from Men’s Sheds Manitoba will visit the town to talk about men’s sheds.
The idea behind men’s sheds is to engage men who are experiencing social isolation. There is no age requirement to join a shed.
Howard said it is generally harder for men than it is for women to socialize, especially outside a work setting or after retirement when some men wonder how to spend their time. A men’s shed group helps bridge that socialization gap.
That’s why she reached out to Men’s Sheds Manitoba to see whether the organization could help area men form a shed based out of Ponemah Beach Central, a former general store owned by the municipality and overseen by Age Friendly Dunnottar.
“A men’s shed is such a great idea. We all have men in our lives and sometimes they have a hard time bridging that initial step into meeting people and finding a way to spend their time,” said Howard. “When I learned about the sheds last fall, I thought this is such a good idea. So I got in touch with Vic Thiessen and other men involved in men’s sheds. It’s such a simple idea and it can be so impactful.”
There is no pressure on Dunnottar men to form a shed on Saturday; the session will simply involve sharing information and gauging community interest, she said.
“Each shed is built by the men who are part of it. A shed looks really different in different communities based on what the men are interested in,” said Howard. “They can range from something that looks like a book club to a shed that builds birdhouses.”
Age Friendly Dunnottar is hoping it can facilitate the formation of a men’s shed in the area in order to “be part of a positive change for men’s mental health,” she added.
In Manitoba, there are sheds in Winnipeg and rural communities. Men gather in community halls, church basements and other locations where they can regularly get together. Activities include hands-on projects such as woodworking, games and conversation, all united by a shared purpose — reducing isolation.
Vic Thiessen, who will be speaking at the Dunnottar information session, said men’s sheds “meet men where they are,” helping reduce isolation, which can affect their health.
Men’s sheds are an important resource because aging, retirement and other major life changes can “significantly” reduce social engagement, and men are less likely to seek help or find community through formal programs.
The information session will cover what men’s sheds are, the growing momentum of the movement in Canada, why they matter to Canadian men, “health by stealth” — the concept that sheds can support mental well-being — community impact, and how to start and run a local shed.
In the Interlake, Selkirk has a men’s shed and another is in the process of being formed.
“There’s a new shed in the start-up stage at Winnipeg Beach led by Paul Chorney,” said Thiessen. “We plan to set up additional sheds in various communities throughout Manitoba as we find leaders and locations to meet in.”
Thiessen shared information about the men’s shed movement, which began in Australia in the late 1990s after a woman noticed her husband becoming disengaged after finding himself idle. From there, the movement grew to more than 2,500 sheds across a dozen countries, including Canada. Canada now has more than 175 men’s sheds.
The National Institute on Aging’s 2025 survey showed 57 per cent of older adults reported being lonely, while 55 per cent of men living alone were at a “high risk” of social isolation.
Although men’s sheds originally focused on retired men, men of any age can join.
“Men’s Sheds are open to all men of the community,” said Thiessen. “The organization was initially started with a focus on men who have retired and are looking for community and purpose in their life. However, all men, regardless of age, can experience loneliness and have a need for other men in their lives.”
Men’s Sheds Manitoba’s Dunnottar information session will be held Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Ponemah Beach Central Art Centre, 27 Central Ave. Doors open at 10:15 a.m.
For more information, contact Althea at Age Friendly Dunnottar at 204-997-9670 or email agefriendlydunnottar@gmail.com.
