Repair Café Visitors Become Fixers!


1_IMG_0405_visitors became fixers

2_IMG_0419_Paul working with youths

4_IMG_0375_full cafe shot

9_IMG_0363_friendship benchThe Friendship Bench by Project Canada at Driftwood Recreation Community Centre

Photographs by Lon Appleby

On Saturday, June 18, Repair Café was excited to visit Driftwood Recreation Community Centre in North York. It was great to meet people from the neighbourhood. Our team of fixers was made up of volunteers skilled at repairing various kinds of household items — computers, electronics, small appliances, clothes, jewellery, book binding, bikes, among others. They worked one on one with each visitor, walking them through the repair process, taking whatever time was needed to ensure that together with the visitor, they were able to get the item fixed.

Video by Lon Appleby

Two young visitors, Aaron and Niza, guided by Paul (our co-founder), were able to diagnose the problems in their laptop computers and then make the repairs themselves. Another visitor jumped in to help with fixing computers for other visitors while his Kitchenaid stand mixer was being checked by our Fixer Ed.

As our visitor Aaron told us afterward, everyone was friendly and helpful at the event, so much so that that Aaron and his friend Niza signed up to become apprentice fixers and will be returning to work alongside our experienced fixers. Welcome Aaron and Niza to the Repair Café team!

Our next café will be held on Saturday July 23 at Ralph Thornton Centre from 12 to 4 p.m. Please Click Here for more details. Hope to see you there!