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Repair 101 at the Whistler public library Oct. 20

Bring a bike, bring a book—AWARE's Repair Café will help you fix it
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REPAIR AWARE Head to the Whistler library on Saturday to get tips on bike repairs and so much more. Pexels.com

Do you happen to have an old bike that needs fixing-or a favourite sweater that needs mending?

If so, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE)'s Repair Café may be just what you're looking for.

"It's a really great chance to get to know other people who are into fixing stuff," explained Claire Ruddy, executive director of AWARE.

The event-which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whistler Public Library this Saturday-is part of AWARE's ongoing effort to help connect the community to waste-reduction initiatives.

"Whistler can be a challenging place to connect with people who know how to fix unusual items," said Ruddy.

To make things easier, AWARE-in coordination with the Whistler Mature Action Community-has brought to together a team of eight volunteers with serious handyperson experience.

The group has a wide range of skills, with expertise in electrical work, book repair, and carpentry-to name a few.

The event will be held on a first-come-first-serve basis, with the public invited to come, hang out, and learn from the pros.

"Come and bring your things, and while you're waiting you can watch other items being fixed and learn from that, too," said Ruddy, who will be bringing a bike.

Inspired by similar repair workshops popping up around North America, the event lands in waste reduction week (Oct. 15 to 21), and according to Ruddy, one of its goals is to encourage people to think more deeply about the things they choose to purchase.

"It's about how do we reduce what we're consuming," and encouraging "conscious consumption," she explained.

The path to zero waste is "a journey," said Ruddy.

"We have a philosophy that every step counts and you have to start somewhere."

The event is part of AWARE's Zero Waste Workshops.

Made possible thanks to funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler's Community Enrichment, the workshops aim to showcase some of the many ways in which people can reduce the amount of waste they create, as well as help people repurpose what might otherwise end up in the trash.

Other events include, Simplifying Skincare with Joanna Runciman (Nov. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.) and Wild Fermentation Sauerkraut with Alice Savage (Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.).

Register on or after Nov. 1 by emailing publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.

No registration is required for the Oct. 20 Repair Café.

For full details, check out AWARE's website at www.awarewhistler.org.