By Shelley Winger
When Cecil Mackesey moved from Ontario to Morinville about three years ago, he was looking
for connections and a sense of community. The Morinville Sturgeon Men’s Shed Club has
helped provide both, while giving him an opportunity to help other men do the same.
Mackesey, the club’s Shed Lead and Wellness Week event coordinator, has also seen cancer
affect men in his own family and has experienced the disease himself. Those experiences helped
shape his commitment to encouraging men to pay attention to their health and seek support when
they need it.
“Men often connect more naturally while working beside one another than they do sitting face-
to-face and being asked to talk,” Mackesey said.
That idea is at the heart of the Men’s Shed movement, which offers men a place to build
friendships, share interests and find a sense of purpose.
The idea for the Morinville Sturgeon Men’s Shed Club was introduced by Morinville Family and
Community Support Services at a community engagement event in January 2024. The club held
its first official meeting on March 18, 2024, with nine men in attendance. It became an
incorporated nonprofit society on April 9, 2024.
The club initially met at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre and the Morinville Rendez-
Vous Centre, with early projects taking place in a member’s private workshop.
Today, the club has a dedicated space at the Sturgeon Agriplex and a well-equipped workshop.
Its activities range from woodworking and music to art, storytelling, community service and
social outings. Members have also completed projects for community organizations and recently
started holding informal music jam sessions.
Rather than following a rigid program, the Shed allows members to help shape activities around
their interests. Men can share their skills, learn from one another and take part in activities that
give them a reason to get together.
For Mackesey, the club is about more than projects and social gatherings. It is also an
opportunity to encourage conversations about men’s physical and mental health.
“Sometimes the first step is not a medical appointment or a formal support group. It may be
sharing a meal, watching a football game, hearing another man speak honestly or taking 15
minutes to complete a health screening,” he said.
The club’s Men’s Shed Wellness Week takes place the week of November 16, with events
planned for Monday, November 16, and Wednesday, November 18. The initiative builds on the
club’s annual International Men’s Day Fun & Football Night and expands the focus to include
men’s health information and screening opportunities.
The week begins Monday, November 16, with the Men’s Shed Fun & Football Night. The event
is for men aged 18 and older and includes a catered dinner and Monday Night Football. Tickets
are $25.
On Wednesday, November 18, a free public Men’s Health Fair will take place at the Morinville
Community Cultural Centre. The drop-in event will offer confidential MAN VAN® health
screening for eligible men aged 40 to 70, including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
Other screening services include mental wellness screening, blood pressure, blood sugar and
waist circumference checks.
Advance booking is strongly encouraged because screening appointments are limited.
Wednesday evening will also feature a ticketed event open to men, their partners and adult
family members aged 18 and older. The evening includes a catered dinner, expert speakers and a
panel conversation, during which Mackesey will share his own cancer journey. Prizes, swag,
raffles, a 50/50 draw and a silent auction are also planned. Tickets are $35.
For Mackesey, the goal is to make it easier for men to connect with others while learning more
about their health.
The club welcomes men interested in building connections, exploring new activities or simply
spending time with others. The first three visits are free, and annual membership costs $50.
More information about the Morinville Sturgeon Men’s Shed Club, Wellness Week events,
tickets and health screening bookings is available at mensshedclub.com/wellness-week. General
inquiries can be sent to info@mensshedclub.com.