From jackets to bikes to coffee makers, the Repair Café is fixing it all.
The Ottawa Tool Library holds a monthly Repair Café where people can bring broken items to be repaired and prevent them from ending up in the landfill.
“We live in a consumptive society where we use way too much and not use it to its full extent. We buy items that are cheap, they break and then they go to the landfill, and we’re trying to change that with this,” said Bettina Vollmerhausen with the Ottawa Tool Library.
Attendees get to also learn a thing or two about moving forward with their items. Vollmerhausen says a side effect is people leaving with a feeling of self-confidence that they’ve learned something.
“This is a very important event because Ottawa actually is going to run out of a landfill site very soon. And the city was looking at ways at how we actually cut the incredible amount of waste that goes to the landfill,” said Vollmerhausen.
Roger Bird was pleased with the outcome of his visit.
“I had a whole bunch of kitchen knives and one chopper for meat and as the sharpener gentleman told me, I’ve been cutting bones with this one,” Bird said.
Organizers say the most common items brought in are jackets with zippers that don’t work anymore.
Margaret Lavictoire came with her friend who’s getting her printer fixed and decided to bring her coat just in case she was able to get it repaired as well.
“The zipper at the bottom had come apart, so I was hoping to get some advice, but it’s actually getting fixed with a new zipper that’s even better than the original zipper. So, I am very happy that my second hand coat is going to get another life,” said Lavictoire.
The Café being held at City Hall Saturday had 20 talented volunteer fixers, including five menders to get the job done. Attendees who bring their items are paired up with one of them.
Tom Marcantonio is one of the fixers – sharpening knives and other tools. He even gave a few learning tips for his clients.
“I drew out a little pattern for them with a little piece of wood with some slots in it, where all the knives could stand up and keep that edge as sharp as possible for as long as possible,” Marcantonio said.
Marcantonio says he doesn’t only sharpen knives.
“I’ve sharpened things like reel mowers, push mowers, which have a curved blade. And generally, it’s just a matter of adjustment. Same with scissors,” he said.
The next Repair Café will be held at the RA Centre on May 10. People can register ahead of time or visit on a first-come-first-serve basis.
