Successful first season for Frontenac Repair Cafe comes to close

Jeff Green | Nov 01, 2019

As the Frontenac Repair Cafe wound down its final incarnation of 2019, the numbers bode well for a return next year (probably in April).

The final cafe boasted 14 fixes, a new record. Included in that were a stuffed toy and an electric fireplace. In total, they repaired 56 items over seven dates in 2019, not only granting new life to useful items, but keeping them out of the landfill as well.

“Roughly 75 per cent of the items brought in get fixed,” said Mary de Bassecourt.

“Some things are broken and not fixable,” said Geoff Murray. “Some are not broken and just need some operator instruction.

“Others you just do what you can do without a great stack of parts available, like lubrication and such.”

For those unfamiliar with the Repair Cafe concept, it’s rather simple. The fixers get together and when people bring things in (toasters, lamps, sewing, sewing machines, electronics, bicycles, etc), they try to fix them. The idea is to not only put items back into working order but also to keep them out of the landfill.

It’s worked pretty well this year but there’s a little more to it, Murray said.

“Not everybody brings in something,” he said. “But it’s not only about fixing, there’s a social aspect to it.

“For example, here we are, a bunch of seniors in a church hall on a Sunday afternoon.

“Besides, if you could fix everything, I’d still be using a rotary telephone from 1963.”

The group has decided to shut things down for the winter months “which are a challenge for everybody” but if you missed their last one, there’s the Stone Mills Repair Cage group operating in Centreville Nov. 2. The Frontenac group is affiliated with the Stone Mills group and the Kingston Group as well.

Moving forward, the group is looking at adapting a trailer to carry tools and parts and is always in need of fixers, greeters and guides.

The best way to contact the group is through their FaceBook page.