About Us
The Shed becomes more than a place to go. It becomes something you help shape and belong.
Who We Are
The Men’s Shed is a place to come as you are. It’s built on a simple idea that connection, shared purpose, and time spent side by side can make a real difference.
At its core, the Shed offers space for men to gather, take part in shared activities, and connect in ways that feel natural. Some come to work with their hands, others to talk, learn, or spend time in good company.
What makes it work is participation. The Shed depends on members showing up not just to attend, but to contribute in ways that fit their strengths, interests, and experience. This isn’t about pressure or obligation in the usual sense. It’s about being part of something shared, where everyone plays a role over time.
In that, something shifts. Connection deepens, a sense of purpose grows, and the Shed becomes more than a place to go. It becomes something you help shape and belong.
What shapes the experience here is straightforward:
Connection – building relationships through time spent together
Purpose – having something meaningful to show up for
Well-being – supporting mental, physical, and social health through a balanced range of activities
Contribution – offering skills and time that feel natural for you
There’s no program to follow and no need to perform—just a place to be involved in a way that feels right for you.
Growing Interests & Sub-Activities
As the Shed grows, so do the interests and energy of the men who spend time here. What takes shape is not set in advance, it evolves naturally from the people involved and what they’re drawn to. Over time, this has led to a range of smaller activities and shared interests, including:
Arts and creative expression
Culture, conversation, and storytelling
Music and informal jam sessions
Hands-on projects and skill-building
Community-focused initiatives
These aren’t fixed programs; they come and go, expand and shift, depending on who’s present and what feels worth exploring.
What Makes This Shed Unique
We’re building something solid here, rooted in community, and still growing.
A dedicated space at the Sturgeon Agriplex
Our own space where members can gather, create, build, and spend time together.
A well-equipped shop
Our workshop ranks among the top for variety of tools and equipment, giving members the ability to take on a wide range of projects.
Steady, organic growth
Membership doubled from year one to year two and continues to grow as more men find their way to the Shed.
Strong leadership
With a diverse leadership group and active grant funding, we’re able to expand thoughtfully and build something sustainable for the long term.
Backed by community
Ongoing local, municipal and provincial support, both social and practical, continues to strengthen what we’re creating together.
History of the Club
Highlighting the history, growth and key milestones of Men's Shed.
Community Engagement
FCSS Town of Morinville introduced the concept of a Men's Shed to the residents of Morinville at a Community Engagement Event
First Official Meeting
Meetings were held at Morinville Community Cultural Centre and Morinville Rendez-Vous Centre, projects began at a member's private workshop, 9 members
April 9, 2024
Incorporation as a Non-Profit Society
Formally founded by Chair, Cecil Mackesey, Vice-Chair, Montgomery Johnson, and Directors, Patric Rankin, Keith Derouin and Bruce Davis.
First International Men's Day Event
Men's Shed Fun Night featuring a catered dinner and Monday Night NFL viewing party, 22 in attendance
January 15, 2025
Meeting with Sturgeon Agriplex Society
Proposal and discussion of building our Shed within the Agriplex
Planning our Shed Space
Acquisition of building permit
November 15, 2025
Grand Opening
12 members, 60 people in attendance
2nd International Men's Day Event
Men's Shed Fun Night featuring a catered dinner and Monday Night NFL viewing party, 28 in attendance
January 1, 2026
Major Grant Acquisition
Awarded the New Horizons Pan-Canadian Grant for Seniors through the Government of Canada with the assistance of West Edmonton Seniors Activity Centre, as the back-bone funder. This grant provided some specific funding for operations and the hiring of our contracted Strategic Consultant to build capacity, sustainability and growth over the next 3 years. Welcome aboard, Kathleen Cesarin, LPN.
Men's Shed Wellness Week Planning
Active plans to expand our International Men's Day event to become "Men's Shed Wellness Week", with the addition of a 2nd event including a dinner, health fair and presence of the MAN VAN ® mobile clinic for men's health testing.
March 7, 2026
Member Experience & Future Planning Survey
Our 22 members and any other previous attendees were invited to share their experience and feedback to guide our Shed.
Facebook!
We're on social media, with over 30 followers in just one week!
May 1, 2026
Website!
We launched our new website with the ability to showcase our organization and move our operations from manual to digital management.
Men's Shed
Wellness Week!
Our annual International Men's Day celebration, backed by overwhelming community support, is expanding to 2 events, with the kick-off focused on social well-being, the second on physical health & wellness.
Open to all men, we look forward to the continuing to build this week as an anchor for Alberta men's health.
Board of Directors
Dedicated members driving our success
Board Chair
Monty Johnson
Likes to over direct, once was a crayon colour coordinator, participated in the Jasper to Banff Run (Van Driver) and is the Shed's worst carpenter.
Board Treasurer
Don Bodinsky
Has a knack for restoring just about anything (including the occasional car), and when he’s not at the Shed, you’ll find him gardening, baking, or curling—but his favourite role is grandpa.
Board Member
Patric Rankin
Retired, wicked sense of humor and always ready to lend a hand.
Shed Leads
Members who stepped up to guide their area of interest
Community Projects
Cliff Davis
Organizing the building and crafting of items that support local community groups and initiatives.
Fundraising Projects
Vacant - your name would look great here.
Organizing and tracking the crafting of items to sell at markets or by custom order to help support the Shed.
Tools & Equipment
Bruce Ehrman
Sourcing and organizing tools, materials, and equipment—whether purchased or donated.
Social, Arts & Culture Activities
Vacant - your name would look great here.
Organizing social activities like music, cooking, cards, board games, sports, art, potlucks, or book discussions.
Events & Fundraising
Cecil Mackesey
Cecil is a steady hand behind the scenes, helping guide the Shed in a quiet way. He is always up for a guitar jam, and enjoys the easy rhythm of coffee, cards and conversation.
Workshops & Info Sessions
Vacant - your name would look great here.
Organizing facilitators from within the Shed or external guest speakers to share skills or learn from others—this could include trades, hobbies, health, wellness, or other fun topics.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Patric Rankin
Keeping the Shed space safe, clean, and organized for everyone.
Outdoor Activities & Excursions
Vacant - your name would look great here.
Planning outings, property-based activities, or visits to other Men’s Shed groups.
Technology & Website Support
Vacant - your name would look great here.
Helping with computers, internet, website updates, or supporting members with basic tech skills.
Finance Management
Don Bodnisky
Assisting with bookkeeping and financial tracking using our digital system.
Communication
Montgomery Johnson
Helping manage emails, phone calls, and general inquiries from members and the public, maintaining a Community Poster/Announcement board.
Want to Get More Involved?
Learn about different ways to take part, volunteer, or support the Shed.