No cash, no trades and no barters: 'Buy Nothing' movement picks up in Quebec
Bill Wexler's garage is filled with things his community has given him for free -- and things he's ready to give away, no strings attached.
He's part of the "Buy Nothing" movement, when community members give away items they're ready to part with.
The only rule? It has to be for free, with no money, trading or bartering involved.
"There's a lot more people that are a lot more unfortunate than we are," said Wexler, adding that the movement has environmental benefits as well.
But it's more than just giveaways: he says the main objective is to build community.
"The aim of the Buy Nothing is to get to know your neighbour."
The movement started in the U.S. and made its way to Canada. In Montreal, several networks have already been set up on Facebook.
Cindy Giroux, who started the Buy Nothing Baie-d'Urfé Facebook group, lives just down the street from Wexler.
She was inspired by a Buy Nothing group in Seattle, where she lived for a few years before coming back to Montreal.
Upon her return, Giroux needed some supplies for her daughter's science project and made a post on Facebook.
Within a few minutes, she had all the supplies she needed, and the idea to set up her own Buy Nothing page was born.
"The goal is to keep things out of landfills," she said. "So maybe [it's] the pot that doesn't have a handle that works, somebody else looks at that and says, 'I can use that in my garden.'"
Like Wexler, she says it's been a great way to get to know her neighbours.
"[It's] the same way you'd knock on your neighbour's door if you needed a cup of sugar."
The idea is to keep each group hyper-local, so most pick-ups are within walking distance.
Giroux hopes the movement can change people's attitudes towards money and consumerism.
"I hope people can rethink the need to buy everything."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.