Saturdays 10:00 am
Visit us for coffee, conversation and projects.
The Ritchie Community League Board hosts a Men’s Shed at the community hall. We gather weekly over coffee to share stories, bounce around ideas for community projects that need doing, and build or fix something!
QUESTIONS? Contact Dan Desnoyers: ddesnoyers1@gmail.com p. 780-920-4587 or Doug Hartman: hartmado@shaw.ca p. 780-919-3696
WHAT IS A MEN’S SHED?
Men’s Sheds started in Australia 30 years ago when a few retired guys got together to restore furniture and fix lawn mowers. There are now thousands of Sheds across the world, including eight in the Edmonton area. Each one is unique in that the men decide what they want to do. Many start as informal coffee gatherings and grow into collaborating on projects for companionship, training, teaching, mentoring, and to improve their community.
Find us on Facebook @MensShedsEdmonton
WHY A RITCHIE SHED?
In Ritchie, there have been few opportunities for guys to gather together and share stories. Our Shedders do that and also put their combined experience to good use, helping to maintain and improve our community facilities.
Our Shed is led by two community members, Dan and Doug, who have been with our Shed since the beginning. As a very experienced certified carpenter, Dan regularly brings his youthful community insights, professional guidance, job safety and quality control skills to our Shed. A retired banker, Doug loves coffee chats and herding the guys to dive into hands-on projects. Each week is different.
Please feel free to contact either one of them at their numbers above.
MEN’S SHEDS BENEFITS THEIR MEMBERS:
By having fun! They enjoy activities they have always loved or discover new ones.
By making friends.
By getting involved in their community.
By having a chance to share their own knowledge or skills, and learn from others.
By being in a place where they can be themselves.
By experiencing support that can enhance mental health.
By reducing isolation.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE
Since we began in April 2023, these have been some of our activities.
Held weekly Saturday Shedder meetings
Assembled 3 insulated dog sheds for Second Chance Animal Rescue Society
Co-hosted evening presentations to the community
Learned how to play pickleball
Refurbished children’s games
Performed numerous maintenance, building and repair projects for the Ritchie Community League hall, inside and outside
Modified space in the hall to become the home of our Ritchie Men’s Shed
Partnering to assist with the West Ritchie Community Garden