Repair Cafe

a purple banner with the words repair cafe and a bike, blender and a laptop showing two people fixing things

Love It. Break It. Fix It.

Repair Cafés can bring broken items back to life.

Have you been holding on to an item that just needs a quick fix like a button to be sewn, a vacuum needing a new cord or a bicycle needing a wheel alignment? Then a Repair Café may be the place for you.

York Region has partnered with Newmakeit to offer a series of Repair Cafés across York Region, hosted at local libraries and community spaces.

People can bring a variety of household items to a Repair Café to be fixed for free. If you're unsure how to do the repair, don't have the space or the right tools, just visit the Repair Café. Volunteer fixers are available to assess your needs and will do their best to fix your item.

Dates and Locations

April 29, 2023
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Newmarket Public Library
438 Park Avenue
Town of Newmarket
Complete the online registration form for this event

May 7, 2023
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Vaughan Public Libraries
Bathurst Clark Resource Library
900 Clark Avenue West
City of Vaughan
Complete the online registration form for this event

For details on other Repair Cafés check with your local library.  

What can be Fixed

Repair Café specialties* include:

  • Bicycles
  • Jewellery
  • Sewing needs (small tears and repairs)
  • Small appliances
  • Toys

*Specialties at each Repair Café may differ as it is dependent on the volunteer fixers attending that day. If you know your repair will require replacement parts (e.g. bicycle tire tube, buttons, etc.) please bring the parts with you.

Items we cannot fix include:

  • Broken zippers
  • Hems and alterations
  • Gas-powered machinery (chainsaws, lawnmowers, snow blowers)
  • Items containing hazardous waste (gas, oil, chemicals, pesticides, etc.)
  • Large kitchen appliances
  • Single Serve Coffee Machines (i.e., Keurig, Nespresso, etc.)
  • Sewing machines

Interested in hosting a Repair Café? Contact us.

How to Volunteer

Volunteer Opportunities

We can’t do this alone! We're looking for eager, enthusiastic people to join our volunteer team.

As a volunteer you may learn new skills, share your skills, be mentored or mentor others. 

Roles include

  • Fixers specializing in:
    • Bicycles
    • Electronics
    • Jewellery
    • Sewing
    • Small appliance repair
  • Coordinators
  • Registration
  • Scheduling

Join the Repair Café volunteer list by completing the Volunteer Application Form. You'll receive updates on upcoming volunteer opportunities via email from our partners at Newmakeit.

Other Connections

Repair Cafés are a great complement to the Region’s other programs that support a circular economy by encouraging reuse over buying new. Search under 'Resources for Residents' at york.ca/circulareconomy for a list of programs available in York Region.