Repair Exchange Calgary working to keep usable items out of the landfill

Repair Exchange Calgary is made up of community volunteers who can teach you how to fix your old household items free of charge.

The Arusha Centre came up with the free ‘repair exchange’ idea in 2023 and the model is simple: communities host events where people can bring in ripped clothing, broken small appliances, household items and bicycles to get them fixed.

“Basically we partner up with community associations or agencies,” said Natalie Calles, Arusha Centre Circular Economy manager. “And then work with them to find volunteers in the community who have a variety of fixing skills.”

Those community volunteers then guide people through the process of repairing those items themselves, leaving them with a usable item and a new skill on how to make repairs at home.

“It works as an entry point for Calgarians to get involved into a circular economy,” said Calles. “Which is really powerful because as you know, there’s a lot of waste and a lot of consumption going on currently and anything we can do to try and challenge Calgarians and their consumption habits and get them to try repair instead of throwing out, we’re really eager to be a part of.”

Calles says one of her favorite stories about an exchange was a woman who brought in her great grandmother’s vintage hair dryer, the kind that fits completely over a person’s head. She had tried to have it repaired at a number of shops with no luck.

“She couldn’t find anything online, so she was really about to give up on having this thing work,” said Calles. “But she brought it to an event (in her community) as a last-ditch effort and we were able to get it up and working.”

‘Addicted to fixing’

Gerald Wheatly is a staff member of Arusha and volunteers at repair exchanges because he likes to tinker.

“I’m not professionally trained but the YouTube world is pretty powerful for problem solving,” he said. “There’s not too many things that if you put ‘how to fix X’ into Google, you’re going to get no responses.”

People who volunteer to help at a repair exchange are known as ‘fixers’ and say they get a sense of pride being able to help others.

“One of our fixers had said, ‘you know I’m just addicted to fixing, I’m just looking around to fix stuff constantly’ and I can relate to that,” said Wheatly.

“It’s so satisfying to make something personal,” he added. “To make it your own by keeping it operating, you’re saving your money, you’re learning new things, you’re doing something with your hands.”

Ferzana Umar is a community builder at the Arusha Centre who coordinates community repair exchanges. She’s also volunteered at countless exchanges to teach people how to repair their fabric items.

“One lady bought a very beautiful dress but it was too long for her,” said Umar. “So I (altered) it for her because it was sitting in her drawer for so long and she loved it but couldn’t wear it and I fixed it for her and when she (tried it on), it fit and then she was very happy.”

Ferzana says she likes helping others, of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds in communities all over the city.

“I fixed a teddy bear for one girl,” said Umar. “She brought it and she loved it and she always sleeps with it and it had just a little tear so I fixed it for her and she was so happy, she give me a hug.”

Calles says the repair exchanges are making a difference in Calgary and reducing the number of items people throw away.

“You’ll never be able to come to repair exchange and drop off your item and walk away,” said Calles. “That’s not what our event is, it’s about you coming in, working with our volunteers who have lots of knowledge and skill and learning how to fix something and having it avoid the landfill and giving it a second life.”

The next Repair Exchange Calgary event is at the University of Calgary’s north courtyard of Mac Hall on February 6th. More information about upcoming exchanges can be found here: Repair Exchange — The Arusha Centre