The Tumbler Ridge Men’s Shed, which started this summer, is already off to a strong start, and they’re planning on taking it up a notch.
At the October 5 council meeting, Bob Rimes, Administrator and Treasurer for the group, along with Ken Slack, Chair, came before council to seek support for a Tiny Home project at Chamberlain Place.
Rimes says a Men’s Shed “is a place where men can gather, form relationships, and make new friends, learn new skills, discover new interests, and work on community projects for themselves and the community at large,” says Rimes. “There is no therapist. There is a friendship, camaraderie, purpose, meaning, conversation, networking, productivity, dignity, and teamwork.”
He says that men are typically not good at expressing feelings. “But they excel in using physical energy to get a task done,” says Rimes. “Men’s shed provides a place for the men in our community to do just that. Health concerns of men related to social isolation and depression are often unrecognized while men can be reluctant to seek help. Sheds have a vital role to play in our transformative, providing relationships for men of all ages, cultures, socioeconomic status, while providing a place for men to speak to other men. No two sheds are quite alike. Some sheds gather in a workshop to build and fix things. Others focus on gardening and cooking, and some just gather to have coffee and camaraderie.”
Rimes says many sheds team up with local organizations to do special projects that support their community. “What all sheds have in common is an environment where men can create shared experiences, celebrate accomplishments, and build community while helping each other,” he says.
Last year, BC Housing tore down their low-income housing units located on Chamberlain place after the houses deteriorated to a point that they were no longer inhabitable.
The discussion around low-income housing at the town revealed a need in town for housing for lower income individuals and families.
And this is where the Men’s Shed comes in. While the project is still in the early phase of discussion with both BC Housing and the Peace River Regional District, the group is seeking support from the District.
He says the organization will need a way to pay for itself to build a permanent location for the group, and building new, low income housing seems a good fit. “Tumbler Ridge is in dire need of updated seniors housing. Hartford Place is the only BC Housing assistance in place and the need for senior housing is greater than the availability. So many of our seniors want to remain in their community but unfortunately are forced to locate outside of the community which in so many ways is heartbreaking and cruel. The potential to provide our seniors with affordable housing should be done with respect, gratitude, and care.
He says the group will bring in professionals as required to ensure “quality engineering and building inspection as we go through the various stages of building.”
Rather than build a bunch of houses, which might be too much stock, he says the group will build one home at a time to ensure that “low income people, seniors, disabled, and yes, homeless people in the Tumbler Ridge area have a safe, viable and affordable alternative.”
While discussions are still early, he suggests that they could build several tiny homes arranged in a circular pattern “with an administration building in the centre, including a food safe kitchen, game rooms, and an exercise room along with office space for management. The centre of the hub could be the new and larger shed that would later be turned into an administration complex.”
While there are also empty lots available to purchase in Steeprock that could be used, the group has been in contact with BC Housing regarding partnering opportunities to place tiny homes on their property at Chamberlain Place. Rimes said this was met with a positive response from the crown agency. “They have given us some direction on how to proceed,” he says. “We will be required to assemble and document every step we make via a business plan and budget to show our expenses in detail. We have the expertise within our group to do just that. The greatest need right now is to generate revenue to pay for the project shop, either to rent or build, and find other donations to cover our operating costs.
“The future is ours and the ability to direct it in a way that blesses our community would be our privilege.”
Councillor Chris Norbury says he likes the idea. “This could have legs,” he says. “Our bylaws do allow for carriage houses, which are secondary houses on a larger property. That could always be an option. I think there’s ways we can work it and I think it’s an amazing initiative you guys are doing.”
He notes the group will be putting in a grant-in-aid request and suggests they look into other sources of funding. “People are wanting to help out Tumbler Ridge and this is something that ticks a lot of boxes at this time.”
Rimes points out the group has already raised $12,000.
Councillor Noksana asks about operating costs. Rimes says material needed for the first tiny home, which could function as the group’s home base, would run at about $75,000 for a 600 square foot location. “Then we would provide the labor to put it together,” he says. “Keep in mind that we have professionals, but we don’t have architects and we don’t have lawyers and things like that. That’s kind of thing comes under operating costs. We would have to hire those people as required. The tiny home is a separate parcel, and would be a way of generating revenue as we move forward. So hopefully it doesn’t stop at one tiny home but keeps going.”
He says that the Chamberlain property is BC Housing and the group would have to pay taxes, but BC Housing is very interested in the Men’s Shed operating it for them. “We can build them or somebody else can build them and we can operate the space for them. An operation contract with BC Housing would become a revenue for a revenue stream for us.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
