ReThink Red Deer (Image Credit: ReThink Red Deer)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Repair Café Feb. 21 at Red Deer Food Bank

Garbage-Free February marks 20 years in Red Deer-relaunches as a civic “training month”

Jan 14, 2026 | 1:35 PM

Garbage-Free February (GFF) is celebrating a 20-year milestone in Red Deer with a refreshed approach in 2026.

Organizers say the new approach shifts from “a month of willpower” to an initiative described as a practical, community-wide civic training month – one that delivers visible value: less landfill waste, more repair, stronger local resilience, and a more robust food system.

Officials say Garbage-Free February (GFF) began in Red Deer in the winter of 2006, when one resident challenged themselves to live “garbage-free” for the month. The concept caught on and evolved into an annual community campaign hosted and promoted locally by ReThink Red Deer.

According to organizers, the initiative later received formal civic recognition through the City’s proclamations process (a mayoral declaration mechanism used to support community campaigns requested by local non-profits), with GFF materials noting it was proclaimed in 2012 by then-Mayor Morris Flewwelling and later renewed under former Mayor Tara Veer.

By 2016 – its 10-year mark – officials say GFF had broadened into partner programming such as the Recycling Council of Alberta’s Waste-Free Lunch Challenge, reflecting a shift from a personal experiment to community-wide learning and practice.

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This year, officials say GFF is being re-introduced as a proud Red Deer tradition with a modern format anchored by learning pathways and hands-on skill-building through The Fixery, Red Deer’s new repair hub.

The goal is simple: help more residents repair, reuse, and waste less – while strengthening the local networks that make everyday resilience possible.

“Repair all the things is more than a slogan,” says GFF founder Rene Michalak. “Garbage-Free February is becoming an annual civic habit-builder for Red Deer – where people learn practical skills, support each other, and create real outcomes we can measure in less waste and more community capacity.”

Repair Café: February 21

A community Repair Café is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Red Deer Food Bank (Bay 12, 2nd Floor).

Residents are encouraged to bring household items in need of repair and to learn alongside local fixers and volunteers. The event is designed to keep useful goods in circulation, reduce landfill contributions, and make repair a normal, accessible option in Red Deer.

Officials say learning pathways are now developing in repairing bikes, textiles, and electronics to help volunteers progress from novice to mentor “Fixers” that give the Cafés a unique experience.

A renewed tradition with a modern purpose

Over two decades, officials say Garbage-Free February has helped residents pay attention to waste – and in 2026, the emphasis expands to skill-building and shared infrastructure.

By positioning GFF as an annual “civic training month,” organizers say the initiative aims to strengthen everyday systems that matter: waste reduction, repair culture, local problem-solving, and a stronger food system.

Garbage-Free February 2026 highlights include:

● A 20-year milestone celebration and relaunch of GFF as a Red Deer tradition

● A new skills-based format supported by The Fixery repair hub

● Community engagement focused on tangible outcomes: less landfill, more repair, stronger resilience

● A flagship Repair Café event on Feb. 21 at the Red Deer Food Bank

About The Fixery

The Fixery is a new repair hub in Red Deer created to help make repair easier, more social, and more learnable. Through practical learning pathways and community events, The Fixery supports residents in extending the life of everyday items and building confidence in repairing, maintaining, and reusing.