Repair Cafés are events where residents can bring broken items to be fixed for free by volunteers who are handy and who like tinkering/fixing things, or for volunteers who simply want to help out in the community.
Since launching the Repair Café, we have welcomed more than 700 participants and 70 volunteers with 830 items brought in and 488 successfully repaired—a repair rate of 56%.
Summer Repair Café Event
Details to come.
New Repair Cafe Partnership
We’ve partnered with the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) - a charitable organization focused on practical solutions in sustainable food systems, zero waste, renewable energy, and green transportation. They're coming on board as a host organization to run future Repair Cafés, bringing with them experience from three years of coordinating Repair Cafés in Vancouver. Learn more at spec.bc.ca.
How does the Repair Café work?
SPEC encourages booking an appointment but they do have opportunities for drop-in as well. Residents are invited to bring one item to be repaired by our skilled Repair Café volunteers. A second item may be considered if time and volunteer capacity permit. Volunteers will assess the item and determine if the repair is possible. Residents are encouraged to stay nearby during the repair process.
Please note: If your item requires specific parts, you must bring them to the event, as we do not supply parts.
Certain items cannot be repaired, including printers, large appliances, monitors, televisions, lawn mowers, furniture with split wood, and clothing requiring hemming or alterations.
Repair Café Volunteers
Join a group of passionate, skilled and fun volunteers with SPEC. They are seeking people who can repair:
- Bikes
- Electronics and electrical items
- Furniture
- Small appliances
- Textiles and clothing
Volunteer Perks
- Contributing to the circular economy
- Helping others
- Connecting with like-minded people
- Community hours
If you are interested in helping out, please click through to SPEC's Volunteer webpage to learn more and sign up.
Repair Cafe's support Coquitlam’s Environmental Sustainability Plan goals of minimizing waste generation and maximizing reuse, recycling and material recovery.
Repair Café International Foundation
The Repair Café concept arose in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2009, and was formulated by Martine Postma, at the time a journalist/publicist. In 2010, she started the Repair Café International Foundation. This foundation provides professional support to local groups around the world wishing to start their own Repair Café. The foundation also supports the Repair Café in Coquitlam.