Repair Cafés: Building a More Sustainable Ottawa, One Fix at a Time

Ottawa’s Repair Cafe Series, featuring the Ottawa Tool Library, is a free, volunteer-led, sustainable initiative that brings people together one repair at a time. Did you know that Ottawa is home to an incredible series of Repair Cafés? These free, community-driven events help reduce waste, foster connections, and give new life to items that might otherwise be thrown away. Our team of wonderful volunteers from the Ottawa Tool Library will be at Repair Café events to mend beloved items, teach new skills, and provide a welcoming opportunity to enjoy coffee and snacks with your neighbours.   For those unfamiliar, Repair Cafés are free community gatherings where people can bring broken items to be repaired with the help of skilled volunteers. Whether it’s a torn shirt, a malfunctioning blender, or a sentimental piece of jewelry, Repair Cafés offer a chance to fix what’s broken instead of sending it to the landfill.  Why Are Repair Cafés Important? 

• Environmental & Financial Impact: Extending the life of your cherished items instead of discarding them saves you money and helps the environment! 

• Skill Sharing: Ottawa’s knowledgeable team of volunteers from the Ottawa Tool Library shares their valuable repair techniques with participants and empowers them to perform minor repairs on their own! 

• Community Building: The Repair Cafés bring people together! These events not only provide repairs, but also bring the opportunity to build meaningful connections and foster a sense of community with your neighbours. 

Check out the Next Repair Café!  More Repair Cafés are on the way! Stay tuned for upcoming dates and locations throughout the city. The next Repair Café is on:  Saturday, April 12 - Sponsored by the City of Ottawa  Jean Pigott Place, City Hall   110 Laurier Avenue West   10 am to 2 pm  Interested in volunteering or simply curious to learn more? Reach out to us or visit The Ottawa Tool Library for details. To learn more about this initiative, go to the 2025 Repair Café series on the City of Ottawa website!