May 9, 2024, Fort Erie Observer

FORT ERIE OBSERVER

May 9th, 2024 • Volume 5 • Issue 18

Repair Café Clinics Coming to Ridgeway

By CHRISTINE WHELAN, FEO


Repair Cafe free clinics inspire residents to
take charge of their own household repair
needs. Saturday, May 4 at Beachcombers in
Ridgeway, the Niagara chapter held a clinic,
inviting community members to sit with them
and discuss their options for do-it-yourself repair or recycle.
Repair Cafe is a large worldwide group of
volunteers who assist their neighbours in
reducing, reusing and recycling household
appliances.
Paul Ellis, Volunteer Coordinator for the Niagara chapter and Assistant Volunteer Coordinator for the Burlington chapter, shared the history of the organization.

“The Repair Café” was originally
set up by a woman out of the Netherlands 14
and a half years ago. She’s still President of the not-for-profit. She brought the vision to the cafe, if I give a person a fish, that person eats for that day; if I teach a person to fish, that person eats for the rest of their life.”
The volunteers have many years of experience and many have decades of professional trade experience. They teach those who come to the clinics how to diagnose, disassemble and identify if a part needs changing. They discuss where a part might be purchased and help with the decision process of whether to repair the item or recycle it.
“There are 3,100 chapters. We are one chapter, in Niagara,” stated Ellis
The Niagara chapter includes Grimsby,
NOTL, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Welland and    St. Catharines.

Paul says he grew up in a house where
Popular Mechanics was an essential household accessory. Building and repairing seems to be in the family DNA.
“I joined the Repair Cafe about six years ago,”
connecting with another volunteer who was just starting a chapter in Burlington.
“The Burlington chapter has now grown to
16 volunteers with a waiting list of people
in the public, wanting to bring their items
in. Burlington has a number system and a
reservation system.” He described the line of
people that went down the road, waiting to get
into the clinic two months ago, making the local newspaper, and shocking the head office in Amsterdam.
Paul says he’s been devoting his time to the
Burlington chapter, helping to get it up and
running. Now, it’s time to look at Niagara. “I’m a lifelong resident here so I know the area well. I still have a lot of good contacts.
John Mytroen, a resident of Ridgeway and a
member of the Beachcombers, reached out
to Paul with the idea of bringing a clinic to
the Beachcombers. They met with the board
members, who showed so much support.
Beachcombers have agreed to host a free clinic in May and again in June.  When asked about his experiences with the Burlington chapter, John shared, “I was very impressed with how organized it was. I saw everyone, when leaving, were smiling and happy, either having something repaired or learning how to fix it.”
RIGHT TO REPAIR   Paul explained the concept. “It’s geared towards the Right to Repair movement that’s very strong in Europe right now and it’s coming to North America. They lobby manufacturers to improve access to better quality parts and not make something with planned obsolescence,” which is the practice of designing products to break quickly or become obsolete in the short to mid-term.
WHY REPAIR?
 

 

Paul inquired, “We wouldn’t throw our car away if a water pump went. We’d get it fixed. So, why not the vacuum, the toaster and the blender? If it’s too much time and money, then yes. But, at least consider a repair option first.
“That’s one of the first things we commend
people for when they visit. We thank them for
thinking about repairing first as opposed to just throwing it in the garbage and going for a new one. Ellis says he’s not against buying new. It keeps the economy going. “But, try to fix it first.” Paul encourages people to just come in and talk with one of the volunteers about options for repair or recycle.
“We don’t fix cars, washing machines
or fridges at the cafe. However, we will
consult with you, and give some advice
that we have earned over the years.”  “We’re not getting paid. We’re not charging. Our brownie points are feel-good points. At 2:00, when we close the doors, we feel good about giving to our neighbours. That’s our reward.”
Paul believes that a lot of people want to
give to their community. “Some volunteer
at a soup kitchen, some go door-to-door collecting for charities, some do their work
in a church. But I wanted to spread my
wings a little wider.” Paul says to those who have been tinkerers all their lives, “We can teach, we can mentor somebody. As long as they have a good attitude and are a people person.” Adding, “This is 90 percent people, 10 percent fixing.”

“It’s the Repair Cafe’s 15th anniversary
worldwide in October. There’s going to be a
huge event in Europe.” There’s more to come
on that topic, says Paul.
The next clinic will be Saturday, May
11, 10 am-2 pm at the Glenridge Lawn
Bowling Club, 84 Glen Morris Drive in St.
Catharines. They will be back in Ridgeway at
Beachcombers, 237 Ridge Road, North,
10 am - 2 pm on June 15, 2024.
Paul hopes to run at least one free clinic a
month in each area.
To learn more about the Repair Cafe go to
the website: RepairCafeNiagara.com