Community Tools – TWC Interactive

Giving Technology A Second Life at Computer Recycling

The Working Centre September 13, 2026

Through the City’s partnership with The Working Centre, the Computer Recycling program is turning yesterday’s tech into tomorrow’s opportunity while reducing waste. Over the past year, more than 250 devices once destined for disposal, including laptops, computers, monitors, printers and projectors, have been refurbished and made available at reduced rates at The Working Centre.

Recycle Cycles Bike Shop: Open and Flourishing

Cassandra Polyzou September 13, 2026

Our mission remains to make access to transportation affordable and serve as a learning and community hub across downtown Kitchener. As an Enterprise Tool project of The Working Centre, people come in to learn and share knowledge on bike repair and maintenance, gain access to tools and hang out in a supportive and fun environment.

Spokes, Skills and Smiles: Cycling Smarts Lands in Waterloo

Cassandra Polyzou September 13, 2026

This June, elementary students had a blast learning how to ride with confidence in the Cycling Smarts program, delivered by a team of instructors from Recycle Cycles. The pilot project is a partnership between the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region, and The Working Centre, and is designed to empower students with new skills and knowledge on the road.

Fostering Inclusivity Through Community Enterprise

Cassandra Polyzou June 5, 2026

For over 20 years The Working Centre has been hosting Community Enterprise projects like Queen Street Commons Café, Recycle Cycles, Worth a Second Look Housewares and Furniture, and Computer Recycling to name a few. Community Enterprise projects are practical and productive examples of enterprise. They are active and working businesses that also focus on building community and inclusion.

Places of Inclusion

Stephanie Mancini March 1, 2026

Gathering in public spaces helps to build community and awareness of one another – in our similarities and our differences. The Mayors’ Dinner, now in its 37th year, is a public gathering that brings 900 people together annually, to celebrate commitment to the common good, to gather, and to support The Working Centre. At this year’s Mayors’ Dinner, we will highlight community endeavours that foster the habit of supporting public places.

Fresh Ground Cafe is Re-Opening

The Working Centre September 20, 2024

After considerable remediation work on the building at 256 King, we are ready to open our doors. We have intentionally crafted the space at Fresh Ground to be an oasis of brightness and calm, with close to 1,000 plants helping us to build fresh ground as a gathering place.

We are introducing a new menu that celebrates community, sustainability, and the joy of sharing meals. This menu will be available at Fresh Ground, in take home meals and catering options.

Updates for Recycle Cycles and Worth A Second Look

The Working Centre September 30, 2023

The Working Centre campus at 256 King East has been undergoing significant renovations as we prepare the spaces for a substantial re-creation. There are three paths of change that we have been navigating. The first is the necessity of moving Worth A Second Look Furniture and Housewares Thrift Store from the main floor of 97 Victoria N to make way for the housing construction project that will start in early October 2023.

A Salute with Gratitude to “the Book Man” Roman Dubinski

Sandy Keller June 27, 2022

Roman Dubinski has been an integral part and significant contributor to The Working Centre for 26 years. Roman began volunteering as a Board member with The Working Centre in 1996. He joined after retiring from the University of Waterloo, on the recommendation of Ken Westhues who was a member at the time.

Roman said he was drawn by The Working Centre’s mission and actions to help the unemployed, which he thought was a worthy cause. The Working Centre reaches people, many of the most vulnerable in society who could “fall through the cracks”, and he felt it was an honourable thing to do. The Working Centre was about supporting people as it sought to create a world that was livable and affordable.

Closing The Working Centre Market Garden

Adam Kramer April 1, 2022

As many of you know, the property that we have called home for the past 10 seasons has been for sale for some time. Recently it has become clear that with so much uncertainty surrounding the sale of the property, we cannot continue moving forward as usual. For that reason, we have come to the incredibly difficult decision to close the garden for the season ahead.

From Gardening to Housing

Joe Mancini April 1, 2022

The closing of the Market Garden is a time to reflect on its success producing over 13,000 kgs of greens, fruits and vegetables per year while teaching hundreds of people the techniques of market gardening. Ron Doyle invited The Working Centre to establish the garden on 2 acres at the Hacienda Sarria. He got the process started by landscaping 72 dump truck loads of soil. The Working Centre dove deeply into the mechanics of operating a market garden.

Tag: Community Tools

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