At the end of 2021 our Chairman, John Latchford, used a trip abroad to visit Sheds outside the UK. He shares his experiences with us…
In early December after a trip to see family in Seattle, I spent a day in Vancouver with United Way British Columbia (who have also received grant money from the Canadian arm of the trust that part funds UKMSA for Men’s Shed development). Whilst in Vancouver I met Barbara McMillan and other staff from the United Way at their their offices, and also met Mike Jennings, founder of Coquitlam Men’s Shed, and President of the BC Men’s Sheds Association; and Robert Goluch, from Squamish Men’s Shed, who organised the recent BC Men’s Sheds Association October conference.
To put things in context; the Canadian province of British Columbia has a population of about 5 million people, in an area 4 times that of Great Britain; there are currently 16 open Sheds and a further 6 in development; so they are still in an early stage of development.
We visited two Sheds in towns to the east of downtown Vancouver; Coquitlam Men’s Shed is in what was the caretaker’s store on a housing estate. Port Moody Men’s Shed is based in a shed at a heritage railway museum. In both cases I met some of their Shed members and saw their setups; Men’s Sheds in Canada have similar problems to the UK finding affordable premises. The Shedders I met were all very friendly and seemed to have much the same attitudes and sense of humour as Shedders I have met in the UK. Thanks to Mike Jennings who was kind enough to drive me to airport, via a short tour of his catboat in a marina close to Port Moody. ”
Here is a link to a 4 minute video about the BC Men’s Sheds Association October conference.
Best regards
John
