Crafting Friendships - Building Bonds
Together, we can make a difference through community support, promoting men's health, and fostering strong social connections
Purpose in Action: Over 300 Turn Out for Burlington Mayoral Debate Hosted by the Shed
On Thursday, September 17, the Burlington Men’s Shed was proud to host a Mayoral Candidates Debate and a Ward Candidate Forum at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. The free community event brought more than 300 Burlington residents together to hear from candidates in the 2026 municipal election.
Moderated by Rishia Burke, Executive Director of Community Development Halton, the evening featured mayoral candidates Marianne Meed Ward, Lisa Kearns and Rory Nisan, along with candidates from Burlington’s six wards.
The response from the community was remarkable. The hall was filled to capacity, with additional residents gathered around the doorways trying to hear the discussion.
Purpose in Action:
More than half of our active members volunteered to make the evening happen. From coordinating logistics and questions to managing parking, setting up the stage, arranging hundreds of chairs, promoting the event and welcoming attendees, Shedders worked side by side toward a common goal.
That is at the heart of the Men’s Shed movement. When people pool their skills and work together, they can accomplish something far greater than they could individually.
The Mayoral Debate was our largest initiative to date—and a wonderful example of our Shed in action.
A sincere thank you to everyone who attended, to the candidates and moderator, and especially to the many Burlington Men’s Shed members who volunteered their time to make the evening a success.
Debate News Coverage
Burlington Today :
Residents show up in droves for first mayoral debate
Cogeco Halton News:
Video coverage of The Burlington Men's Shed Mayoral Debate and Ward Candidate Forum
Below are links to their news articles
Inside Halton/The Burlington Post:
3 Burlington mayoral candidates debate homelessness, housing, data centres, strong-mayor powers
About Burlington Men's Shed
Creating and Strengthing Social Connections
As a proud member of Men's Sheds Canada, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where men can connect, learn, and contribute to our community. We started the Burlington Men's Shed in late 2022 and now have over 60 members. In 2024, The Burlington Men’s Shed was registered as a not-for-profit corporation in Ontario—a big milestone in our mission to to build strong social connections and strengthen our community.
What We Do
Since our start in late 2022, the City of Burlington has demonstrated exceptional support for our group through its Adult Program Schedule, providing meeting space, insurance, and participant administration.
We have 2 groups meeting weekly: 9:30am Wednesday's at Tansley Woods Community Centre and 9am Thursdays at the Burlington Seniors Centre. At meetings, members enjoy guest speakers, project planning, open conversation, followed by standing chat with Coffee. With over 60 members from diverse backgrounds, our group values friendship, learning, and purpose.
Over the past year, we’ve participated in many activities outside of our weekly meeting, including:
- Assembled Muskoka Chairs for the Burlington Downtown Business Association
- Built raised garden beds for the Burlington Food Bank using recycled materials
- Helping to set-up Holiday Light displays in Spencer Smith Waterfront Park
- Volunteering and coordinating donations to Local Food Banks
- Touring local industries, including Amazon, Toyota, Opta Glass and a vinyl record pressing plant
- We funded purchase of a CNC router, making wood projects/signs to generate revenue. Check out our "CNC Router Shop"
- Formed active hiking, bocce ball, bowling, cycling, book club and pickleball groups
As a registered not-for-profit, we’re committed to transparency, good governance, and positive community impact. This structure helps us grow through fundraising, sponsorships, and partnerships—ensuring the Shed continues to serve Burlington for years to come.
Weekly Newsletter
We publish a weekly newsletter called "Shed Talk" which covers our recent and future activities, fostering community support and promoting men's health. This newsletter is sent to over 140 individuals in our community, helping to strengthen social connections.
In the News!
Over 300 Turn Out for Burlington Mayoral Debate Hosted by the Shed
On Thursday, September 17, the Burlington Men’s Shed was proud to host a Mayoral Candidates Debate and a Ward Candidate Forum at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. The free community event brought more than 300 Burlington residents together to hear from candidates in the 2026 municipal election.
The event was covered by many local media outlets
Burlington Today :
Residents show up in droves for first mayoral debate
Inside Halton/The Burlington Post:
3 Burlington mayoral candidates debate homelessness, housing, data centres, strong-mayor powers
Burlington Gazette:
First election debate was a Standing Room only event - no clear winner
South Shed, New Members wanted! Sign-up starting Aug 20th for the Fall Group session!
Current South Shedders and prospective new members can Register for the Fall session of the South Burlington Shed Group starting on Aug 20th on the City of Burlington Parks and Rec website.
The Fall Session of the South Burlington Men’s Shed group will run from Thur Sep 17th to Thur Dec 17th. The South group meets weekly on Thursday's from 9am to 11am at the Burlington Seniors Center, 2285 New St.
The Burlington Men's Shed is a welcoming and inclusive space where men meet weekly to strengthen social connections, share and develop skills, work on meaningful community projects, and participate in an active lifestyle.
Burlington Men’s Shed Food Drive: A Huge Success for the Compassion Society
A massive thank you to everyone from the North and South Burlington Men’s Sheds who stepped up for our recent food drive.
Through the "Red Bag — Bring It Back Full" program, our members absolutely knocked it out of the park. Together, we filled 38 red bags to the brim with essential food items and daily supplies, collecting an amazing quantity of much-needed provisions!
A special shout-out to Grant for leading the Drive and thanks to Paul, Randy, Blair, Rob, and Grant, who took the time on July 3rd to load up and deliver all 525 lbs directly to the Compassion Society of Burlington to help support local families.
Did you know 1 in 10 members of our community are impacted by poverty and 68% are children. To learn more about the Compassion Society and their support services to our community visit:
www.compassionsocietyofhalton.com
It’s amazing to see what we can accomplish when the Sheds come together. Thank you for your time, your donated packed bags of needed provisions, and your continuous community spirit!
Reflecting on Our Inaugural Annual General Meeting!
April 22, 2026 marked a significant chapter in the story of the Burlington Men’s Shed. We gathered for our first Annual General Meeting, and the energy in the room was a testament to the incredible community we’ve built together in such a short time. The turnout was fantastic, and your presence made the meeting a success.
The Details
- When: Wednesday, April 22nd
- Time: 10:00 am
- Where: Tansley Woods Community Centre, Community Room 5
- Who: All members from North and South Sheds
A Vision for Community: The Burlington Men’s Shed Visits Bateman
On March 11th, over 30 members of the Burlington Men’s Shed toured the former Robert Bateman High School. We want to extend a sincere thank you to the City of Burlington for the opportunity; our members were incredibly impressed by the scale and progress of the renovations. It is clear that Bateman is on its way to becoming a first-class community hub
A Growing Movement in Search of a Home
The Men’s Shed is more than just a club; we are a grassroots movement tackling social isolation and supporting the mental well-being of men in our city. Our membership has already surged to over 60 active members, and with a permanent home, we are confident that number will quickly exceed 200.
Currently, we operate out of temporary locations for only a few hours a week. Despite these limits, the demand for what we offer—connection, purpose, and mentorship—continues to rise.
The Power of Shared Space
We know space is at a premium, which is why our vision is rooted in collaboration, not exclusivity. We envision a 3,000-square-foot shared-use model: the Men's Shed would utilize the space during weekdays, leaving the facility and equipment available for other community groups in the evenings and on weekends.By partnering with the City, we can:
- Maximize Utilization: Keep the facility vibrant and active seven days a week.
- Share Funding: Offset City costs through member dues and independent fundraising.
- Ensure Safety: Implement professional-grade tool security and safety protocols that benefit all users.
Let’s Build Success Together
We are eager to begin a dialogue with City staff and Councillors to make the Men’s Shed part of the "DNA" of the Robert Bateman Community Centre. We’ve demonstrated the demand and the talent; now, we look forward to exploring a partnership that makes Bateman a shining example of what happens when a city and its citizens build something great together.
Shed Success at the Burlington 55+ Active Living Fair!!
What a day! Despite the "bracing" Canadian winter chill outside, the atmosphere inside the Burlington Seniors’ Centre was warm, buzzing, and full of energy on Saturday Feb 7th.
The Burlington Men’s Shed was out in full force for the Burlington 55+ Active Living Fair, and we couldn't be prouder of how our group was represented. This event was a fantastic milestone for us, providing a high-profile platform to showcase the heart of what we do: building community, staying active, and lending a hand where it's needed most.
Making Connections
Our table was a hive of activity. We had the chance to swap stories with many influential community leaders and residents, further cementing the Shed’s reputation as a vital part of Burlington’s social fabric. It wasn't just about handing out pamphlets; it was about showing the city that the Shed is a place of purpose and camaraderie.
Growing our Shed
The timing couldn't be better. With the South Shed capacity increasing to 25 for the upcoming spring session and a few coveted spots still open at the North Shed, we had plenty of interested folks stopping by to see how they could get involved. The interest we saw on Saturday proves that the need for a space like ours is stronger than ever.
A Huge "Thank You" to Our Volunteers
An event like this only works because of the men who step up. We want to extend a massive thank you to the volunteers who manned the table across both shifts.
- The Morning Crew (10:00 am – 12:00 pm): For kicking things off with great energy.
- The Afternoon Crew (12:00 pm – 2:30 pm): For keeping the momentum going right until the doors closed.
Your willingness to stand (and chat!) for a few hours represents the very best of the Shed spirit. You didn't just promote a group; you welcomed potential new members into our community.
Burlington Men's Shed Facebook site is now Public!
In January 2026, the Burlington Men’s Shed Facebook Page was changed from a Private Group to a Public Group.
By changing to a Public group, all future posts will be visible to everyone on Facebook, helping to increase awareness of our community-based, non-profit organization.
We hope that all current Shed members will choose to become followers of the our Facebook Public Group site
Space Needed!
If you have space in Burlington that is compatible for setting up a workshop and holding meetings (up to 30 people), we'd love to partner with you. We bring our own tools, insurance, and a dedicated group of guys eager to help. Know a good spot? Let us know!
We funded the purchase of a CNC Router in early 2025, which is initially set up in the garage of one of our members. We have started to take on CNC Wood projects to raise funds for our shed. Check out the "CNC Router Shop" link at the top of the page.
Burlington Men's Shed's
Join us at Burlington Men's Shed and be a part of a global movement that is redefining what it means to support and empower men in today's society.