Maple Ridge Repair Cafes Year 8 Launch is on February 15, 2025!
On Saturday, February 15, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society will launch their EIGHTH year of Repair Cafés at the Maple Ridge Library from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Repair Cafés are pop-up events where residents can bring their broken items and volunteer “fixers” are available to help residents learn how to repair their small appliances, lamps, electronics, jewelry, clothing, bicycles, small toys, or furniture.
Since launching Repair Cafés in 2018, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has hosted 46 repair events and residents have brought over 2600 items to be fixed, including 1,124 electrical appliances, toys, or tools, 746 textiles (clothing, bedding, stuffed animals, etc.), 281 pieces of jewelry, and 66 bicycles. Ridge Meadows Recycling Society is grateful to Vancity and Metro Vancouver for grants to help fund Maple Ridge Repair Cafes in 2025.
“Maple Ridge is proud to continue partnering with Ridge Meadows Recycling Society on the incredibly successful Repair Café program, which strengthens our commitment to sustainability and highlights that we are truly Driven By Community,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “The fact that we have been recognized as one of the top 10 repair cafe programs in the world is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and the innovative spirit of our community.”
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has worked to build sustainability in our community for over 50 years and looks forward to a year of continued partnerships with the City of Maple Ridge, Metro Vancouver, the Maple Ridge Library, the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, the Haney Farmers Market, the Maple Ridge Museum, Celebrate Earth Day, GETI Fest, and more!
Maple Ridge Repair Cafés aim to:
- Promote & encourage repair in a modern way
- Enable valuable repair expertise to be learned and shared
- Promote social connections in the local community
- Repair and reuse items that would’ve ended up in the landfill
- Encourage kids to get hands on with tools and learn how things work
- Provide support to others who wish to start up their own Repair Cafes
Tinkerbell Station is a part of every Maple Ridge Repair Café and is a home-grown initiative to encourage kids to get hands-on with tools & “tinker” with items at the end of their life. Old toasters, tv remotes, keyboards, and more are provided as well as screwdrivers and pliers. With adult help, kids can take things apart to see how they work, then get creative and use Repair Café tools & supplies to make robots, jewelry, or their own original creations with the pieces. Tinkerbell herself will be joining the April 26 Earth Day Repair Café!
“Our Repair Café volunteers are VERY dedicated!” says Leanne Koehn, Repair Café Coordinator and Community Engagement Manager for Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, “They love new challenges and helping the community. We also love welcoming new people who want to join our team as fixers or assistants to help with registration, event setup & takedown, or monitoring Tinkerbell Station.”
Get Involved!
Do you or anyone you know have repair skills, want to learn more about repair, or just want to help out in your community? Complete the online form at https://rmrecycling.org/repair-cafe-volunteer-information or email leanne@rmrecycling.org to volunteer as a Fixer, Apprentice, or Helper and become a Repair Café hero!
UPCOMING REPAIR CAFES:
Maple Ridge Repair Cafes Year 8 Launch!!
Saturday, February 15, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Co-hosted with the Maple Ridge Library
Location: Maple Ridge Library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
Saturday, March 15, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Co-hosted with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society
Location: Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224th Street, Maple Ridge, BC
Saturday, April 26, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Part of Celebrate Earth Day 2025 Festival!
Location: Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, BC
Special Guest – Tinkerbell!
Saturday, May 17, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
**Our 50th Repair Café!!**
Co-hosted with the City of Maple Ridge
Location: Albion Community Center, 24165 104th Street, Maple Ridge, BC
Special Guests – Ridge Meadows Quilter’s Guild
Saturday, June 14, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Co-hosted with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society
Location: Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224th Street, Maple Ridge, BC
Saturday July 19, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Co-hosted with the Maple Ridge Library
Location: Maple Ridge Library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
Saturday, September 20, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Part of GETI Fest 2025 Event!
Location: Maple Ridge Bandstand, Memorial Peace Park
Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
Celebrating International Repair Cafe Week! Co-hosted with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society
Location: Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224th Street, Maple Ridge, BC
Special Guests – Ridge Meadows Quilter’s Guild
Saturday, November 22, 2025 Time: 10am – 2pm
LAST Repair Cafe of 2025! Co-hosted with the Maple Ridge Library
Location: Maple Ridge Library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
Special Guest – Museum on the Move
If you would just like to learn more about Maple Ridge Repair Cafes, visit www.mrrepaircafe.ca, look up Maple Ridge Repair Cafés on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mrrepaircafe), email leanne@rmrecycling.org or phone Leanne at 604-463-5545.
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society is grateful for the support of:
City of Maple Ridge
Metro Vancouver
Repair Café Foundation
Maple Ridge Library
Ridge Meadows Seniors Society
Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows NEWS
Haney Farmers Market
Celebrate Earth Day Planning Committee
GETI Fest
Ridge Meadows Quilter’s Guild
Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives
Fraser River Indigenous Society
MR-PM-Katzie Community Network