We’ve all noticed that many of our purchases are ‘designed for the dump’. From clothing that frays after a single use to cheap furniture that breaks easily, the products we consume aren’t meant to last. As a result, we’re often forced to replace rather than repair what we own.
CSI member organizations like the Toronto Tool Library and Sharpen believe that what stops most people from preserving their possessions comes down to a lack of access to the proper resources, plus a few basic skills that anyone can learn with a bit of time and guidance from skilled experts.
The Toronto Tool Library (TTL) and Makerspace is an anchor of CSI’s ground floor, seeking to provide an excellent shared resource to downtown Toronto residents, especially for those who may not see themselves as “handy.”
“Sustainability and self-sufficiency is in our DNA,” says Tim Willison, Director of the TTLMakerspace. “The Tool Library offers members access to both tools, and the training to use those tools well. We consider both the physical tools, and the knowledge, to be shared resources and it is our role to maintain and distribute both to the membership.”
Having access to tools and supportive experts empowers members to learn, tinker, and the build skills that benefit their daily lives. Say you need to hang a shelf or cut a board to size – Tool Library members can borrow exactly what they need and receive training to use it safely and effectively, all for just $90 per year.
The Tool Library also hosts regular hands-on workshops in their Makerspace. Since joining CSI, Tim estimates that they’ve delivered training to over 1,300 people at the Spadina location.
What separates TTL from standard tool rental services is its cost and training. While many hardware stores offer tool rentals, the service is often intended for contractors – with high rental fees and little to no instruction. These services assume that the people renting the tools already know how to use them. On the other hand, TTL experts aren’t shy about sharing their experience and advice. When someone walks into the Tool Library for the first time, Tim explains, “Our first question is always ‘what’s your project’, and then we spend time figuring out all the stuff they need.”
You’ve likely seen examples of the Tool Library’s work across the city. Fellow CSI Member StopGap Foundation’s colourful ramps can be found in front of thousands of stores city-wide, helping buildings provide accessible entrances. Even if it’s just a single step, these ramps eliminate a barrier to entry that can make these spaces inaccessible, and many of these ramps have been expertly constructed with the Tool Library’s resources and space.
Another skill training organization at CSI is Sharpen, a B Corporation that provides a wide range of workshops. While construction skills are a big focus, Sharpen also teaches everything from clothing repair to cooking and stained glass art. Beginning in Montreal where they still run about 100 workshops per week, Sharpen has set up its new location in Toronto. Gilles Maurin, Development Lead, expressed confidence in their first month: “We’re really happy so far and are still working on creating more workshops and more variety.” Each session is about 3 hours long and typically costs between $100-$130 with provided materials. Their most popular workshops are on renovations since skilled contractors can be pricey. But because nobody wants to accidentally damage their home or install something incorrectly, Sharpen specializes in basic skills like how to properly use a drill or hammer for repairs and renos.
Gilles described the philosophy of Sharpen as:
“Before you buy something, you should be able to try to fix it”.
The biggest obstacle to achieving this for many people is a lack of confidence in their own abilities, so the workshops aim to be fun, low pressure environments that encourage experimentation and let ‘Sharpeners’ hone their practical skills by working with their hands. Developing a wide range of basic skills isn’t just useful but, in Gilles words, it also makes people more “autonomous”. When people are less reliant on paid expertise, they can take the initiative to make what they want, change their environment, and share their knowledge with a community of craftspeople.
Sharpen wants attendees to learn how to repair their clothes to give them a second life. Maintaining what you already have is a great way to support sustainability and reduce your costs. People of all ages and experience levels attend their courses because they’re designed to be enjoyable and engaging for anyone looking to expand their skills. Sharpen schedules workshops for almost every day of the week, generally starting between 1-4 PM with evening sessions scheduled for 6-9 PM.
Everyone is capable of making changes, even when those changes might need some expert guidance. Knowledge sharing is crucial for collaboration and sustainability, and it’s a key message that many organizations at CSI have bonded through. If you have a daunting home project you’ve been meaning to get around to but don’t know quite know how to start, you can sign up for a session with Sharpen at sharpenskills.ca. Once you’re feeling comfortable enough with your skills, grab everything you need by becoming a member at the Toronto Tool Library and check out their YouTube channel for other DIY tips. If you need the space to work on your project, the TTL Makerspace has you covered with monthly memberships you can sign up for at ttlmakerspace.com. Whether it’s training, tools, or simply space, you can find it all right here at CSI.
