Okotoks residents looking to keep their items from the black bin can register online to have their broken treasures repaired.
The Town is running its eighth Repair Café on Nov. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Pason Centennial Arenas. After taking a virtual twist in the spring, the café will go in-person this time around – but with hefty restrictions.
People must sign up for a 30-minute time slot with the specific fixer they need to see, whether someone to sew and repair clothing, or volunteers who specialize in small appliances and electronics, woodworking, or bicycle repair.
“We have a few less volunteers than in the past just to keep things small,” said Rosheen Tetzlaff, environment and sustainability project assistant for the Town.
Items eligible to be fixed at the Repair Café include gaming consoles, music or video players, cameras, toasters, coffee makers or other small kitchen appliances, small furniture pieces, clocks, plastic items requiring glue, toys, clothing and housewares requiring mending (full alterations are not possible).
Microwaves and vacuums are not permitted.
Masks are required, and after being greeted at the door visitors will complete a COVID-19 questionnaire and sanitize their hands prior to entering the Repair Café room.
After giving their item to the repair person, they can wait in a chair placed two metres away from the fixer until the work is completed, and then exit out a separate door from the entrance, she said.
Once patrons have left the table, all surfaces will be disinfected before the next person comes in, she said.
Teztlaff said the Repair Café is typically a popular event, but the virtual version didn’t get much uptake with fewer than 10 items dropped off for repair in the spring.
“We worked really hard to put this one together despite all the odds,” she said. “We decided to go back in-person and the fixers, they kind of like to be in-person with the people to get more of an idea what they’re fixing and build the personal connections with people as well.”
To sign up for the Repair Café, visit www.okotoks.ca
