NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH TOOL LIBRARY
************************
Bring your broken items and have them fixed for free. Join the Guelph Tool Library on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a free Repair Cafe in the University Centre, in collaboration with OPIRG and the City of Guelph.
Get your stuff fixed!
Community members can bring their broken items to the Guelph Tool Library Repair Cafe on the main level of the University Centre, located off South Ring Road. Volunteer fixers are skilled in repairs ranging from electronics and small electrical appliances to clothing, computers, and clocks.
Fixers will be doing repairs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, and guests will be assisted on a first come, first available basis. Attendees are asked not to bring items which need welding, refrigeration equipment (coolers, bar fridges, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc.), gas-powered equipment (lawn mowers, line trimmers, chain saws, etc.), items operating on a power greater than 120 volts and tools and appliances from other countries operating on different currents.
“Toss it away? No way!” says the Repair Cafe
The Guelph Tool Library has repaired thousands of items at free Repair Cafe events since 2016. This has kept more than 4,000 kg out of the landfill, with about 70 per cent of the items brought in getting repaired. This month, the Repair Cafe comes back to the University of Guelph campus, making it even easier for students and staff to repair their broken items and save them from landfill.
“We think it’s important to have a presence on campus,” says Steph Clarke, community engagement manager for the Guelph Tool Library. “Students represent 20 per cent of our city, and more than 5,000 of them live in student residence. Working with OPIRG, we’re able to connect with more of the student body and help them to learn about what the Guelph Tool Library can offer them.”
Thanks to an ongoing collaboration with the City of Guelph, the GTL is able to offer these events free of charge, though monetary donations are always welcome to help support additional costs.
“We’re very resourceful when we acquire tools, supplies, and parts to run our events,” Clarke continues, “This year we were fortunate to receive a donation of tools from Wurth Canada Limited, which hugely benefited the Repair Cafe and our general operations at the Guelph Tool Library. Our collaboration with the City of Guelph helps cover the costs that we don’t have support for.”
**************************