Repair Café:
A Family Tradition
— by Naheed Syed
When I first heard about the Repair Café, I instantly felt interested. The concept was simple but powerful: repair what was broken, reuse what you could, repurpose what still had life, and prevent items from ending up in the landfill. And all that was done within the community. So, this event was combining two passions of mine: people and numbers.
In the collectivistic culture that I come from, when something breaks, the first instinct is not to throw it away. Instead, we try to mend it because sometimes the object carries a memory; sometimes it is an heirloom passed down through generations; and sometimes it is simply about respecting the value of something you worked hard for. Repairing things was never just about saving money; it was about care, patience, and gratitude for what we have.
Interestingly, I did not discover the Repair Café myself, nor the wonderful green heroes who make such initiatives possible. That credit belongs to my darling husband. Curious and community-minded, he was exploring causes and values that matter to us, and ways our family could give back to the city we now call home.
In the collectivistic culture that I come from, when something breaks, the first instinct is not to throw it away. Instead, we try to mend it because sometimes the object carries a memory; sometimes it is an heirloom passed down through generations; and sometimes it is simply about respecting the value of something you worked hard for. Repairing things was never just about saving money; it was about care, patience, and gratitude for what we have.
Interestingly, I did not discover the Repair Café myself, nor the wonderful green heroes who make such initiatives possible. That credit belongs to my darling husband. Curious and community-minded, he was exploring causes and values that matter to us, and ways our family could give back to the city we now call home.
So, on a very cold December day in 2023, the five of us—me, my husband and our three lovely children—bundled up and attended a Sustainable Orillia meeting at the Orillia Museum of Art and History. What we experienced there was truly uplifting. We immediately felt welcomed, and we were surrounded by people who cared deeply about the environment and about finding practical solutions within the community. It felt like meeting friends, who were not just talking about change somewhere in the future, but creating the “there and then” right here and now.
That meeting gave me my first glimpse into what the Repair Café would become in our lives.
In the spring of 2024, I walked into my first Repair Café event at St. James. I attended simply as a community member, bringing along a pair of curtains that needed repair. My husband was already volunteering. What struck me most was the energy in the room. There were the rhythmic sounds of hammers tapping and sewing machines whirring, volunteers pouring coffee, children colouring and crafting nearby. But the best sound of all was the collective cheer each time an item was successfully repaired and weighed, followed by the joyful announcement of how much waste had been diverted from the landfill.
Later that year, I joined as a volunteer, and soon my daughter and son followed suit. Before long, the Repair Café became something our family looked forward to. We began organizing our schedules around it, often setting aside other activities because this event had become important to us.
My children took pride in contributing—serving as ushers or helping take photographs. It became a meaningful way to show them that their efforts matter and that sincere action, even in small ways, can make a real difference. My teen daughter loves the fact that she is doing her part for a meaningful cause; while my son is the self-proclaimed youngest volunteer at the event.
We are especially grateful to Annalise Stenekes, whose dedication helps bring the entire event together. Her thoughtful leadership, including ensuring the space is welcoming and accommodating for diverse needs, reflects the spirit of community that defines the Repair Café.
Looking back now, Repair Café feels a bit like a bamboo tree. It began quietly, taking root beneath the surface. Three years later, it is firmly planted in our family calendar. What started as curiosity has grown into a tradition—one we love, value, and are proud to be part of.
The next event takes place on Saturday April 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m at St. James Church, 58 Peter St. N., Orillia. Come and check it out for yourself – you’ll be glad you did! For more information, reach out to orilliarepaircafe@gmail.com.