Updated 9 November 2026

After his heart attack, Maxine Chaseling's father would not talk, but he would go out to his shed. He could no longer work, and the low mood followed him around the house. Among his tools he seemed to have a purpose again.

Chaseling ran a day centre for older people in Goolwa, South Australia. She saw the same look on the men there, who drifted past the activities the women enjoyed. In 1993 she gave them a workshop of their own and called it The Shed. Barry Golding's history of the movement tells the story, and Men's Sheds Canada now counts more than 3,300 of them worldwide.

Why her idea matters in Canada this month

On 2 November 2026, Health Canada published what nearly 6,000 people told it about men's health. Asked who a man turns to when something is wrong, the top answer was no one. A doctor or nurse was chosen by about one in twenty. Anyone could reply, so read it as a mood. A national plan is on its way.

Men's health in Canada: the gap in numbers, from Health Canada's 2026 report
Measure Men compared with women
Life expectancy (2024) About 80 years, against 84
Preventable deaths (2021) More than double the rate
Has a regular health provider (2023) 79 per cent, against 87
Deaths by suicide About three times the rate

The same move, in other accents

Countries that already have a plan keep borrowing Chaseling's method, which is to go where he already is. Irish health workers set up heart checks at cattle marts, and three in four farmers tested were sent on to a GP. England's 2025 strategy brings suicide-prevention support to Premier League matchdays. Winnipeg opened a workshop on the Goolwa model in 2011.

Brazil made her appointment his

Brazil found the cleverest door of all. When a mother-to-be books her prenatal visits, her partner is invited along and offered blood tests and vaccine updates for himself. Delivery is patchy. In a 2023 study in Recife, half the clinic staff surveyed had never heard of the official guide.

Do men's sheds work?

Partly. A 2022 review of 52 studies found better mood and new friendships. Most of that research rests on members' own accounts, with no comparison group. Ireland's pioneering national policy drew a similar verdict: praised in review, then faulted for having no budget. Good ideas are cheap, and keeping the lights on is the expensive part.

What to borrow tonight

You can use the approach before Ottawa does. Ask beside him, while his hands are busy: on the drive, on the dog walk, over the dishes. Book his check-up next to yours. No trial proves the car beats the couch, so call it a pattern. Viva counts connection as a health input, as real as sleep.

Thirty-three years on, governments are still reaching for the remedy Chaseling's father found by himself: a bench, and someone standing next to it.

Read more or get involved: Health Canada's What We Heard report is free to read, and Movember is the government's partner on the strategy.

FAQ

When will Canada release its men's health strategy?

Early 2027, according to Health Canada. The national conversation opened on 23 February 2026 and ran for three months, drawing 5,246 questionnaire replies and 328 written briefs. Movember Canada is the independent convening partner for the Federal Men and Boys' Health and Well-being Strategy.

Which countries have a national men's health strategy?

Ireland adopted the first in 2008, followed by Brazil in 2009, Australia in 2010 and Iran in 2013. Australia's current strategy runs from 2020 to 2030, and Ireland's second action plan covers 2024 to 2028. England published its first in November 2025.

Where can a man in Canada get help right now?

Anyone in Canada who is thinking about suicide can call or text 9-8-8 at any hour, free of charge. For everyday health, the Canadian Men's Health Foundation runs the free Don't Change Much programme, and Men's Sheds Canada can point him to a local group.

Medical note: This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice. If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8, or call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Sources

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