Repairing your household goods and clothing is this group’s MO.
Do you have a “perfectly good,” broken lamp in your house? There’s nothing wrong with it that a little rewiring couldn’t fix, if only you knew how to rewire. Or maybe your sewing machine’s on the fritz, or the clasp on your grandmother’s necklace won’t close — items too precious to throw away, but too busted to use.
Repair Cafe Toronto is on a mission to make sure your broken-down stuff doesn’t get tossed for lack of a little TLC. In a strike against excessive consumerism, the non-profit organization brings together volunteer “fixers” and folks who need things fixed.
The Repair Cafes are actually events, rather than specific places, and the locations vary. Their website has a map and a calendar so you can find one that suits your needs. They pop up in shared spaces such as libraries, community centres, and churches, and, over the years, have given a second life to more than 10,000 items ranging from toasters and computers to blue jeans and garden equipment. From the initial event in 2013, Repair Cafe Toronto’s free services have spread to multiple locations throughout the city, with a regular Sunday event from noon to 4 pm at Creative Reuse Toronto.
Repair Cafe was the brainchild of Martine Postma, who organized her first event in Amsterdam in 2009. Since then, the initiative has become a worldwide movement and prompted Martine to found Repair Cafe International Foundation. The nonprofit provides professional support to local groups in the Netherlands and other countries wishing to start their own Repair Cafes.
In 2012, Wai Chu Cheng, a sustainability specialist and advisor to Seneca College, read about the concept and was convinced it would work in Toronto. She and two other Torontonians, Paul Magder and Fern Mosoff, hosted the first Repair Cafe in Toronto the following year.
Now the longest-running Repair Cafe in Canada, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with a picnic at Christie Pits for its volunteers. In the past decade, they’ve organized hundreds of events that become hubs for both free repair services and community engagement. Even when they don’t have an item for repair, visitors are welcome to stay for coffee and conversation, and to learn how to fix things by watching or helping. Teaching people how to do their own repairs is one of the organization’s goals. Those who are already handy are invited to use the Repair Cafe’s tools and do the work themselves, with help from a fixer if needed.
“It’s a very rewarding atmosphere,” says Paul Magder, a self-described fixer of “electrical stuff.” “People are so happy. They’re so grateful. Even when we can’t fix something, people are happy, because they know they can dispose of it without feeling guilty.”
There’s another payoff beyond the big smiles of happy people whose items are back in operation. If you haven’t already, you can add “Repair” to the critical Rs of resource management. Repair culture supports the movement of society from a linear economy, where products are produced, used, and disposed of, to a circular one, which strives to eliminate waste and reduce the consumption of raw materials.
Devoted volunteers bring a wide range of experience to the events. “I really enjoy the social interaction between the fixers, volunteers, and clients,” says Ken Vickerson, a professor in the Material Art & Design program at OCAD University. Originally trained as a goldsmith, he has been fixing fine jewelry, eyeglasses, watches, and other objects at Repair Cafes since 2016. His enthusiasm eventually led to the launch of a Repair Cafe at OCAD.
I like meeting those whose clothing needs fixing. I’m so happy they are not just throwing items away because they don’t know how to fix them.
Faith Ellen, a professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto, loves to repair books, a skill she learned by volunteering as an assistant with another fixer. “It’s fun to work with other people and learn from them,” she says. “I particularly like repairing books that children bring in.”
Sometimes, clients arrive with items of sentimental value. One couple brought an antique chair that was part of a set one of them bought before they were married. They were so delighted with the result, they planned to come back with a second chair.
Liz McGroarty, a retired nurse who does clothing repairs, recalls a grandmother who bargain-shopped for her granddaughters’ graduation dresses. “She was so proud of having done that, and so loving to her granddaughters, that I broke the Repair Cafe rules and did a lengthy alteration,” Liz says. “I like meeting those whose clothing needs fixing. I’m so happy they are not just throwing items away because they don’t know how to fix them.”
If you want to support the Repair Cafe concept, you can apply to be a volunteer or learn how to start your own event. Monetary donations are also welcome.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn something, teach something, fix something, or get something fixed, all in the company of some exceptionally skilled and charming individuals…with coffee and cake no less!” says Ken Vickerson. “A circular economy with snacks — what more could you ask for?”
Looking for help with a fall jacket zipper issue and the dang bell box is making some very strange noises but still functioning- would anyone be able to help me with these items?
Hi Ruth, Give it a try! It can help to let the folks organizing Repair Cafes know what it is you’re hoping to repair so that they can have the appropriate “fixer” available. Let us know how it goes!
Hi,
I am a Sr. Editor of an Indian weekly newspaper having wide readership and also a Columnist. so far, my 2,000 articles have been published here in Canada and India.
I never heard bedore about ‘Bluedot Living’ and the Repai Cafe. I am very much delighted to know about them through internet.. I intend to write an article about ‘Repair Cafe’ for Indian and Pakistanis living in GTA, Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton. Before I write my article I would llike to visit one Reapi Cafe to get first hand knowledge. Can I visit any Repair Cafe?
In countries like india, Pakistan and Bangladesh there are more people who use their everyday needed items for years by self repairing or getting them repaied by professionals. In fact repairing is livelihood for many.
There is another aspect too. The less you discard the more you help climate.
Firoz Khan
23 Duntroon Cr.
Etobicoke.
416 473 3854
Hi Firoz,
I hope you will visit a Repair Cafe. The more people who know about them, the better. Let’s keep items out of landfills!
Where is Repair Cafe located would love to come in I have a few stuff I would like repaired
Where is this event taking place? I have an analog watch that needs to be repaired. It is approximately 65 years old
Repair Cafes aren’t so much locations as events. They tend to be offered at various places. Best thing to do is to click on the link in the story and visit the site for information. There are Repair Cafes coming in mid December.
I’v couple of broken zippers. One on a suitcase & another on a Eddy Bower dwn fill vest Iv worn for decades with rips taped with duck tape.
I live in Toronto , a senior who needs a wing chair reupholster, is anyone able to help , need to know , I certainly don’t know how , anyway I could volunteer and be help in the process of it all and learn too.
Please give me information.
Margaret
Hi Margaret, Visit the link in the story (https://repaircafetoronto.ca) for more information. I’m sure they’d appreciate a new volunteer!
Amazing project. Congratulations.
Where does it take place. I have a sewing machine I need to fix. Thank you
Please visit the site for more information: https://repaircafetoronto.ca
hi I have an iron does not work where are you located thank you
Check out the site for more information: https://repaircafetoronto.ca
Hi. Where can i find the repair cafe in Toronto?
Check out the site for more information: https://repaircafetoronto.ca
Hi, I live in the Yonge Eglinton area & would like to know where there is a repair cafe near by & what the hours are
I can’t say enough positive things about this idea and service. The further we get away from a consumer disposal based society, the better it will be for our precious earth. And we’ll save a great deal of money also. There are many handy individuals for whom this will also provide a great deal of personal satisfaction to. Who knows, maybe friendships will evolve too ? WoW ! Iis all I can say.
God bless everyone involved in this program with forever happiness !
We agree, Nicholas. Wow, indeed!
So fantastic and generous, during this trying time!
I have a year old Bissell – ProHeat 2X Carpet cleaner that the brushes stopped spinning shortly after I bought it (yes, it was New).
I contacted Bissell. We determined it was a broken belt.
I told them it was more than that.
Regardless they sent me a new belt. I put it on. Worked fir about 10 minutes, then both brushes stopped working again.
LOVE my Bissell, but not happy about this.
Contacted them again for a Service place near by, but they kept warning me repair would NOT be covered… So much for the so called 3 Year Warranty!!
I’m mad. Upset. And in desperate need of it being repaired.
I have 5 birds, 1 cat and 3 dogs.. MY CARPETS ARE DISGUSTING.
Can you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE help me?
Thank you
Isabel
Hi Isabel, We are pet lovers too so we share your pain! We have no idea if a Repair Cafe can help you but we think it’s worth finding out. See if you can find a Repair Cafe near you (repaircafetoronto.ca). Good luck!
Where is Repair Cafe located would love to come in I have a few stuff I would like repaired
Hi Pauline—thanks so much for your interest! The Repair Cafes are actually events, rather than specific places, and the locations vary. Their website has a map and a calendar so you can find one that suits your needs. You can find the links to the map and calendar in the story. Happy fixing!
So grateful for all who have volunteered their skills and knowhow and to Paul and Fern. Thank you!!
This would’ve been right up my dad’s alley. He was an environmentalist to the core and a teacher of mainly shop! Or Industrial Arts as it came to be known. His grander scale projects involved standing up to wrecking balls so he and his students could save some of the oldest structures in the GTA from being demolished. It took a lot of strategic planning and hard work to take the houses down then build them again in their new, city-approved locations. The fight for the proper permits and space to relocate was hard enough. Good thing he had students and his kids to do a lot of the grunt work! I loved it. My dad was the one who got me into thrifting when I was a kid. It’s been a life long passion and is currently part of my business plan. And he showed me there’s no shame in turning one person’s trash into another’s treasure. Garbage day was an event! Phyllis Rawlinson Park in Richmond Hill is where you will now find the house from 1801, now known as The Robert Holland Interpretive Centre.
Hi Sarah, What a fascinating backstory! So glad this story made you think of your dad, who sounds like a real pioneer in hands-on environmentalism!
I would really like to have a desk chair fixed. The whole wheel fell off including the part that attaches to the chair. I need it welded back on, I’d really not get rid of it, it’s a nice chair. I’ll take it wherever necessary to get it fixed. I have tried the normal routes but the welders I have been talking to have basically told me to toss the chair, it’s not worth fixing, it would be very expensive. If anyone is willing to fix it, I would really appreciate it.
Hi Miki, I don’t know for sure if the Repair Cafe folks can help you out, but worth a try! Looks from their calendar like there’s one coming up on May 25th in Scarborough. https://repaircafetoronto.ca/upcoming-events/
Good luck!