Series of ‘repair cafes’ will give Hatters a greener way to handle old belongings

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on January 10, 2025.

A new way to take a greener approach to life is hoping to patch itself into Medicine Hat culture, with a trial run of a few hosted repair cafes.

Small groups are being invited to Arcade Plaza to take the time to try and mend their belongings, as a way to combat the realities of fast fashion and in the current world.

Mending can help save money, extend the life of belongings, and allow the owner to express creativity and personality, said Martha Munz Gue with the Grasslands Naturalists, one of the organizers behind the new repair cafe dates.

The first of these cafes was hosted on Thursday, with plans for them to continue on every Thursday in January from 1-3 p.m at Arcade Plaza, and an after-school session from 3-5 p.m. at the 415 Bee Gallery for those who need availability later in the day. Both sessions are drop in, and a small stash of needles, thread and mending wool will be on hand to help anyone get started on their mending projects.

In addition, the “415 Bee Gallery” is featuring local artists’ work depicting pollinators, plants and birds. Other displays remind us to conserve and restore local ecosystems for personal and planetary health.

The repair cafÃ©, part of this exhibit, is a demonstration of one way to reduce waste, as an important step in protecting ecosystems.