Repair Café Pierrefonds serves up new life for broken goods

On the first Saturday of every month, Repair Café Pierrefonds takes place at the public library. Volunteers help repair damaged items brought in by residents, while also teaching them how to do it themselves.

Alexandra Marocchino’s family has been using this nativity carousel for over 30 years—when it stopped working about four years ago, her husband bought a new one, but fixing the original was still on her mind. 

“This is sentimental and then it’s pretty and beautiful and it means a lot for our family. Every Christmas Eve we turned it on, like we lit it up and then we made Christmas wishes,” said Marocchino.

Patient sleuthing and a few dabs of hot glue fixed the carousel. 

“I’m really happy. And like I said, if it can’t be repaired here, it won’t be repaired,” said Marocchino.

Carl Dionne was on the case. He’s been a volunteer here ever since retiring around two years ago.

“[I’m a volunteer here] because it’s socially rewarding and I like to see people happy after I’ve repaired their things, plus I get to meet new people,” said Dionne.

Repair Café was founded in Amsterdam in 2009 and has since spread worldwide. Serge Markovic was part of starting this one in Pierrefonds and is now helping to open repair cafes across the island like in Beaconsfield and Ville-Saint-Laurent. 

“I’m extremely handy, they call me McGuyver,” said Markovic. “Some people have been known to just come by and chat. ‘What do you need to repair today?’ Nothing, I just thought i’d drop by’ so that’s nice too.”

Around 30 items are saved from landfills at each Repair Cafe. Volunteer seamstresses mend torn clothing and adjust hems.

“I brought a skirt to shorten and now I brought my hat also,” said Mark Skoulikas, a client of Repair Café Pierrefonds.

Ria Di Marco, a volunteer, added, “I’m putting straps on a hat so the wind won’t take it away. And we’re done. Just cut the thread and we’re done. “

In a time where many are looking to keep costs down and clutching their wallets closer amid the U.S. trade war – places like this are key.

“In today’s world, you know, if you save some money, you know, why not? Like, you know, things are very expensive,” said Skoulikas.

This is Victor Ma’s first repair café.

“They can repair it, and it’s free.  It warms my heart. So today I brought clothes and a TV remote controller. I got here to want to repair it.  They helped me a lot. I’m excited,” said Ma.