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FOCUS: Fix it, don’t ditch it (Mar. 2025)

April 14th, 2025 · No Comments

Learn how to repair your household items at Karma Co-op

Karma Co-op is offering a series of repair cafes to help residents fix
many small household appliances, computers, and fabric. COURTESY KARMA CO-OP

By Terri Chu

Hidden in an alleyway across from Palmerston Junior Public school is a neighbourhood gem that far too many people don’t know about. Karma Co-op is a treasure that has been around for 50 years in the middle of Seaton Village. 

Karma made news in Toronto during the nation-wide boycott against Loblaw and their price gouging, but protesting against billionaires is not the only reason to visit the space. 

It also offers its members some pretty fantastic events that are open to the community. Recently, Karma members brought in fabrics in need of repair. Volunteers from the repair café set up shop in Karma and were busy keeping repairable clothing out of landfill.

Young people have often been criticized for their inability to repair things, unlike the older generation. The reality is that young people have rarely encountered goods that were designed to be repaired, instead of disposed of. 

Planned obsolescence has trashed not only our oceans, but basic repair skills— skills our grandparents had that have been lost to both technology and capitalism. 

Repair cafes are an opportunity for young people to learn how to repair things, and this gives them a chance to reframe the disposable mindset they have grown up with. Volunteers show them how to repair broken appliances and ripped seams, all for free.

Karma is not only an ethical grocery store (owned by members, not billionaires), but also a space that empowers one to buy responsibly, support local farmers, and fix what you own rather than buying new—all ways to reduce our environmental footprint. 

Co-operatives like Karma are in need of support; they are community spaces that bring people together. When you walk into Karma, there’s no overwhelming sense of needing to shop quickly and get out. Members chat, share, and are reminded that no matter how crazy the world is, there is a place where like-minded individuals can gather (and get groceries), and their money goes towards sustaining the planet and the community.

Upcoming Karma Co-op repair cafés: 
At 739 Palmerston Ave:

  • Sat. March 22, 12:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. (Small Appliances & Electronics)
  • Sun. April 6, 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. (Computer Software and minor Hardware)
  • Sun. April 27, 12pm. Noon-3pm (Fabric Repair Cafe)
  • Sun. April 6, 1-3pm (Computer Software and minor Hardware)
  • Sat. May 24, 12 Noon-3pm (Small Appliances & Electronics)
  • Sun. June 22, 12 Noon- 3pm (Fabric Repair Cafe)

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Tags: Annex · News