New Prince George Men’s Shed to host grand opening

A new Prince George Men’s Shed is hosting its grand opening this month.

Local therapist Brent Goerz started the New Beginnings Men’s Shed earlier this year, but the group is now ready to host its grand opening at 597 4th Ave. in the old city carpentry shop.

Goerz had a vision to start another Men’s Shed in Prince George after the Vanderhoof Men’s Shed helped him recover from burnout from working as a hospital social worker.

“My informal job description was meeting people on the worst day of their lives,” said Georz, adding that for example, he’d be the person to call parents and let them know their child was in a car accident.

“I did that for 17 years until I couldn't do it anymore.”

He found a therapist in Vanderhoof and began commuting there after which he discovered the Vanderhoof Men’s Shed.

“They have the formula for creating a safe space. You are not your job, or what you did as a job. It's just embracing who you were and just come as you are.”

“It was just a place of safety and sometimes it was just sitting on the couch and listening to other people talk.”

A Men’s Shed is a physical space to address men’s tendency to suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression, particularly after retirement. They are places where men can gather, work on projects, be creative, drink coffee and hang out.

“It's just men gathering. One of the terms I like is stealth mental health so it's actually helping men's mental health in an informal way,” he said.  “You can work on your mental wellness, without having to go to therapy. Yeah, you're hanging out with other guys and it's the shoulder-to-shoulder activity of doing something meaningful.”

Men’s Sheds are modelled after an Australian movement that started in 2007 and the first Canadian shed started in Winnipeg in 2011.

In 2014, the Vanderhoof Men’s Shed opened and it has now grown to over 100 members and there are now three Men’s Shed’s, including New Beginnings, in Prince George.

There is currently a PG Men’s Shed operating through the Canadian Mental Health Association of Northern B.C. (CMHA) and a Men Shed consisting of retired teachers in the Hart, but Goerz says there is always a need for more.

“Really, there needs to be a Men's Shed for every 10,000 people,” said Georz, adding that one day he hopes there could be a Men’s Shed for every neighbourhood in the city.

“Each shed basically is independently run and it really takes on the personality of the group. We've got kind of a tight group of about five leaders that all come from different walks.”

He said the name New Beginnings is a reference to a new beginning for retirees and also a new beginning for those who are who are struggling with their own mental wellness.

The group has been meeting at Omineca Arts Centre every Wednesday but is now ready to move to the carpentry shop.

The ribbon cutting will take place from Nov. 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature food and dignitaries.

“Come join us and invite a friend,” said Goerz.

Those who are interesting in connecting with the New Beginnings Men’s Shed can find them on Facebook and through the provincial Men’s Shed network.