For the past many decades, we have been buying all sorts of things for our house, for ourselves and for our children. We have accumulated a lot of things. We have so many things in our house that we are starting to declutter and get rid of some of them. The first thought was to trash them and junk everything which we no longer need or want.
But then, my sister introduced me to the Repair Cafe in Toronto. I never heard of it until my sis told me about it.
Inspired by the original global Repair Café movement that started in Amsterdam, Torontonians Wai Chu Cheng, Paul Magder, and Fern Mosoff started Repair Café in Toronto and the first event took place on May 25, 2013.
Recently, I found out when the next Repair Cafe was in Toronto and took my most favourite piece of costume jewellery that was broken to the event and hope that it would be fixed.
There were a few tables set up at the Scarborough venue; volunteer fixers and professionals such as electricians, seamstresses and other specialty craftspeople were there on this Saturday morning donating their time and skills dedicated to fighting our throwaway culture and reducing waste.
These wonderful volunteers are there regularly at the Repair Cafe events scattered thoughout the city trying their best to fix broken or damaged household items brought in by resdients. They offer their service for FREE so that the items could be fixed free of charge!!!
I was happy that a volunteer jewelry expert who used to teach in the Jewelry Makig Department at Seneca College for thirty years was there spending his time and fixing my neckpiece for me. He was patient, careful and meticulous!
In about 15 -20 minutes, my neckpiece was restored like new! I was grateful to this professional jewelry expert who did an excellent job fixing it for me. This piece holds significant sentimental value for me and I am happy I can wear it again!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and two thumbs up to the Repair Cafe in Scarborough, Toronto!
RT, Repair Cafe, Toronto, 092026
