Some things don’t start as big initiatives. They begin as a reason to get together.
For us, that began in November 2024.
To mark International Men’s Day, we hosted our first Men’s Shed Fun Night—Monday Night Football, a catered dinner, and a chance to spend time together outside the workshop. Twenty-two of us showed up. It was easy, relaxed, and exactly what it needed to be.
We did it again the following year.
In November 2025, we held our second Fun Night, this time with 28 in attendance. There was a catered dinner, the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Las Vegas Raiders, door prizes for everyone, and plenty of laughter. More importantly, there was connection—conversations that carried beyond the evening, and friendships that started to take shape.
That’s where something shifted.
We began to see that these gatherings weren’t just social—they were meaningful in a deeper way. They created space. And from that space, a larger idea began to form.
In 2026, that idea has grown into something more intentional: Men’s Shed Wellness Week.
This will become an annual initiative aligned with International Men’s Day—something consistent, something people can come to expect, and something that builds year after year.
At the centre of the week are two events.
The first is familiar.
Men’s Shed Fun Night – Monday Night Football
Monday, November 16, 2026
Morinville Rendez-Vous Senior Centre
Expected attendance: up to 75
We’re keeping what worked—good food, a game on the screen, and a welcoming space to connect. Just on a larger scale.
The second event expands the purpose.
Men’s Shed Health Fair
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Morinville Community Cultural Centre (MCCC)
Expected attendance: up to 150
This event brings together health access, education, and community in one place. The MAN VAN® from the Prostate Cancer Centre will be on site, offering a four-hour clinic with preventive screenings including PSA testing, mental wellness screening, blood pressure, blood sugar, and more—serving up to 75 men.
Alongside this, a vendor trade show, shared meal, and guest speakers will create space for learning, conversation, and reflection. The intention is simple: make it easier for men to access support, and more comfortable to talk about it.
By pairing these two events, we’re addressing both sides of wellbeing—the physical and the social.
Men’s Shed Wellness Week is not a one-time effort. It’s something we intend to build into a steady annual rhythm each November. Over time, this allows for stronger partnerships, better planning, and a growing sense of trust within the community.
What we’re working toward is clear:
- Making preventive health more accessible
- Normalizing conversations around men’s health
- Strengthening relationships across the community
- Creating more opportunities for men to connect and participate
In 2026 alone, we expect up to 225 men to be directly impacted through these events.
But at its core, this still comes back to where we started.
A group of men. A shared space. A reason to show up.
If you’d like to learn more about Men’s Shed Wellness Week or get involved, visit: