Like many impromptu social events these days, it started with a text message, then grew into something unrecognizable.
Claiming to have trumped the Steveston Moms Network (SMN) by at least 12 months, the male variety of the species was sparked into life by a jocular, 11-word invitation from Ross Lundie to five ‘estranged’ buddies.
“Let’s get together for a beer on a Thursday or Friday,” the text read.
Two and half years later, the Steveston Mens Support Group (SMSG), as it’s now called, boasts 156 members on its Facebook page and organizes regular pub crawls from one end of the village to the other.
You could be forgiven for dismissing the group’s formation as being just another excuse for guys to escape the responsibility of a father and husband in a poorly disguised rouse to get a beer in their hands.
After all, guys have more than enough social outlets, don’t they?
“My wife goes out far more than I do and I think there’s maybe been a bit of a shift in that perception that guys are out more, as it’s now much more socially acceptable for women to be out there now,” said SMSG’s founder and originating text author, Ross Lundie.
“One guy who joined us had just moved from Victoria. His wife grew up here, but he didn’t know anyone.
“And it’s not just a pub crawl; there’s people from different backgrounds, different ages; there are pilots, butchers, masseurs, firefighters, cops. My dad’s in his 70s and he comes along.”
It’s good to meet new people, added Lundie, and “we get to step outside of just socializing with the people we work with.
“It gets you to engage with others that are maybe outside of your normal social circles.”
At one SMSG meeting, Lundie, a Steveston High grad, said you could be speaking with a pilot, the next week an acupuncturist and the week after that a stone mason.
“You learn a lot from having a conversation with people you normally wouldn’t,” he said.
“It gets you out of your comfort zone, to learn about others and to reflect on your own life. Tonight (Tuesday), 15 men got together to talk about nothing really in particular. The only thing they had in common is that we’re all guys and we all live in Steveston.”
A longtime Richmond guy in his late 30s, Lundie felt everybody he knew was so busy with their kids and nobody seemed to keep up with their buddies.
“Basically, you get to know who’s in your neighbourhood,” said Lundie.
“In the summer, it’s every week, in the winter, when the kids have more stuff going on, it’s every third week. We just have a few beers around Steveston.”
During their “crawls,” the SMSG posse kicks off at the Bean and Beyond Café, then bounces around to the Army and Navy, then the Hog Shack, to the Blue Canoe and usually finishes up at the Buck & Ear.
They get around 30 plus turning out in the summer, 15-20 in the winter, as well as a big Steveston Fall Stumble next month and a Spring Stumble for good measure, when around double those seasonal numbers turn out. They even had a family barbecue in the summer, with everyone’s other halves and children invited.
“We always do a whip-round for charity each time as well,” added Lundie.
It’s not just about the beer, however.
Case in point, mortgage specialist Pedro Bello, who, actually, doesn’t drink alcohol.
“Everybody assumes it’s a drinking thing, but I don’t drink; it’s just a good place to socialize with the guys and get to know people,” said Bello, who is one text message removed from the original five founding members, having randomly bumped into Lundie while building a house near SMSG’s founder.
“We talk about our kids, the neighbourhood, business; I guess it can be a little bit of networking as well.”
Most of the guys, said Bello, live in the neighbourhood and after meeting them on one of the nights out, “it’s good to know who they are when we’re at the park with the kids.”
“The group gives you a sense of familiarity to who’s in your neighbourhood and a good sense of community.”
SMSG’s Facebook site provides information regarding upcoming community events; what’s new with Steveston merchants and anything else Steveston related.
“We pride ourselves in trying to support the local merchants as much as we can, as so many of them do so much for the community,” said Lundie.
SMSG also has a mission statement printed on the back of the group members’ t-shirts, stating, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, “We provide a positive and supportive environment for the Men of Steveston to enjoy beer and discussion unfettered by the stresses of everyday life.”
“My wife laughs at me now when we walk through Steveston as I am always saying ‘hi’ and giving other guys the nod,” laughed Lundie.
“When she looks at me, wondering who the person is, I just reply ‘SMSG.’ She is getting used to it now.”
There’s a rumour circulating that a similar group has started up in South Arm, called SAFA (South Arm Fathers Association).
Now, if the, SAFA, SMSG and SMN (Steveston Mom’s Network) have a simultaneous night out in Steveston — what might that look like?
