The international Repair Café network just keeps on growing! At the end of August, we added the 4,000th Repair Café to our world map. Repair Café Réparation de la Vallée-du-Richelieu is located in Canada, in the French-speaking province of Quebec. Vallée-du-Richelieu lies just east of the metropolis of Montreal, where several other Repair Cafés are already active. The celebratory opening of the 4,000th Repair Café will take place on Sunday 4 October.
Geneviève Ruest had been thinking about setting up a Repair Café for some time.Repair Café Réparation de la Vallée-du-Richelieu is an initiative by Geneviève Ruest. She had been mulling over plans to start a Repair Café in her own neighbourhood for some time. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the Repair Café movement over the past year, and it’s amazing to see how it’s grown!”, she says. “I’m close to members of Repair Café Montréal and I’ve seen how connected these people have become because they’re all working together for a great cause.”
A broader aim than simply promoting repair
For Geneviève, that aim goes beyond simply promoting repair. “While repair is the primary activity of a Repair Café, overconsumption, planned obsolescence and the right to repair are also important underlying concepts: educating and promoting healthy consumption habits for the well-being of all. I believe our Repair Café will also serve as a useful platform for gatherings where sharing, interests, learning and camaraderie will accompany our repairs.”
She is being helped in this by all sorts of local residents. “We have recently recruited volunteers during a local festival of upcycling artists and craftspeople. These volunteers are members of the community, including electronics engineers, electricians, aeronautical specialists, seamstresses and upholsterers, as well as resourceful repairers – professionally or as a hobby. All are interested in repairs.”
Hopes for an inspiring adventure
Geneviève is eagerly looking forward to the opening of Repair Café de la Vallée-du-Richelieu on 4 October. “I’m really hoping our adventure is inspiring and that it truly reflects the spirit of the Repair Café movement. We’re proud to be a voice for responsible consumption!”
More information
- Visit the Repair Café Réparation de la Vallée-du-Richelieu page on our website
- Read more about the Repair Cafés in Montreal
- View our world map showing all Repair Cafés around the world
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