Brampton teens weighing their post-secondary options and residents with a broken lamp, bike or laptop both have somewhere to turn this month, as Brampton Library hosts two free events at different branches.
A College and University Fair runs at the Springdale branch, 10705 Bramalea Rd., on Oct. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m., with the event aimed at ages 13 to 19. It will be followed by a Repair Café at the Four Corners branch, 65 Queen St. E., on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Brampton Library's online listings.
At the fair, representatives from Ontario colleges and universities will be on hand to answer questions about planning a path after high school. The library's event page includes a participant roster that students can review ahead of time to see which schools will be there.
The listing describes the fair as an information event, so students hoping for admission decisions, scholarship offers or one-on-one counselling appointments should plan accordingly. For anyone still deciding on a program or school, it offers a chance to ask questions directly.
The following Friday, the Four Corners branch turns into a pop-up repair shop. There is no advance registration for the Repair Café — attendees sign in their item and complete a waiver when they arrive. Repair check-in closes at 2 p.m., one hour before the event ends.
Because of the time available, the library asks each attendee to bring only one item for repair, along with any replacement parts the item needs. Volunteer fixers list experience with bicycles, sewing, computers, electronics and small appliances, though the listings note this describes the skills on hand rather than a guarantee that every item can be accepted or fixed.
The café is offered in partnership with Let's Get Together and Bike Brampton. People who want to help with repairs, or simply watch and learn from the fixers, can sign up as volunteers through the event page.
The same event includes a Tech Collect drop-off for electronic waste, metal waste, batteries and printer cartridges, with no limit on the number of items. Used, broken and unwanted laptops and computers dropped off will be refurbished and circulated to community members in need.
The library says visitors should keep the refurbishing collection separate from the repair service, which is meant for attendees hoping to fix and keep their own device.
Both events are free, and the library advises checking its official calendar before heading out in case details change. With the dates a few days apart, there is time to prepare questions for the fair and to track down the item — and its parts — for the café.
