WEST END MEN’S SHED LENDS A HAND
Community Building At Its Best

by James Oakes
(click images to enlarge)

**residents of haro park centre out to witness the unveiling of their new sign.** *(James Oakes Photos)*

Residents and staff of Haro Park Center gathered outside the long term care facility on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 22 for the unveiling of a new sign designed for better visibility at street level adjacent the loading zone.

Among those on hand was Haro Park resident Dennis Josey, who originally pitched the idea to the non-profit group Men's Shed, whose local members designed and constructed the sign as a volunteer community project, with funding for materials provided by Haro Park Center management.

Also present were several Men’s Shed volunteers, including Mathias Schade who helped with the construction team. “I was trained as a machinist, but I learned a lot about woodworking on this project.

“After meeting with the CEO Rob Gilis, the person at Haro most directly involved in the design decisions and direction was the Centre’s director of operations Kevin Ng,” Schade told us.

**the Men’s Shed sign construction Team (from left): Bruno Belzile, Deane McConnell, John McLean, Mathias Schade, and terry Connors.**

Men's Shed is a worldwide social organization for men with interest in community projects. According to their website, it is an opportunity for men to gather to learn new skills, discover new interests, and make new friends. Men communicating “shoulder to shoulder in a space, symbolic of the backyard shed where men chat and work on projects. A welcoming environment where men create shared experiences and build community.”

Haro Park Centre, established in 1980 to serve seniors in the West End, and provide independent housing, assisted living, and complex care under one roof.

"Our workshop home is in the basement of the HI Canada hostel in Vancouver's West End," explained Men’s Shed’s Mathias. "In 2024 the hostel needed benches and planters to enhance their outside deck and other areas, and the Men's Shed members responded with our labour, tools, and expertise.”

Haro Park Center CEO Rob Gillis described the collaboration as an example of great community building, and thanked resident Dennis for his visionary new signage idea.