Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair: EcoCaledon bringing repair cafe to Bolton

By Zachary Roman

Have something you need fixed? The experts coming to a repair cafe in Bolton might be able to help you out.

Being held at the Caledon Seniors Centre in Bolton on April 30, the repair cafe will be part of the larger “Caledon Reduces” event being held that day at the same location. The Caledon Reduces event will feature a fashion show styled completely with second-hand clothes, as well as a film screening of “The Story of Plastic.”

Lucrezia Chiappetta is the co-chair of EcoCaledon and said we live in a “throwaway” society. She said more people are coming around to the idea that recycling isn't the only solution to humanity's waste problem. Stopping waste from being created in the first place is important, she said, hence the repair cafe.

Chiappetta said EcoCaledon has received a great response from the Caledon community “in terms of what we call fixers.” 

“We've got an array of fixer volunteers that cover right from ceramics gluing all the way to small appliances,” said Chiappetta. “It's great to see that these volunteers are willing to share their knowledge, their experience to help other members of the Caledon community to repair their own items.”

According to EcoCaledon, repair cafes promote the philosophy of fixing and reusing items instead of throwing them away. Volunteers will be available to help people with broken items from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The fashion show will begin at 2 p.m. and aims to show Caledon youth that it's possible to dress to impress without contributing to the fast fashion industry.

“We have some younger members… since fashion is such a big topic, especially for the younger group, we thought it would be a great opportunity to put on a bit of a fashion show,” said Chiappetta. “The younger group within the Caledon Reduces subcommittee (of EcoCaledon) really wanted to tackle this fashion problem by hosting this fashion show. And we've been happy that they've kind of taken the lead on this particular project.”

The Story of Plastic is a 2019 documentary about the trillion-dollar industry of manufacturing and marketing plastics. Chiappetta said since plastic is a big part of Caledon's waste problem, the movie screening was a good idea for the community. EcoCaledon members who participate in walks where they pick up trash noticed a large amount of single-use plastic waste discarded in the community, said Chiappetta.

The repair cafe and entire Caledon Reduces event are free and anyone may attend.

“We are really hoping that if people in the Caledon community are out and about that day, they will definitely consider coming over to the seniors centre,” said Chiappetta.