No cash, no trades and no barters: 'Buy Nothing' movement picks up in Quebec
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
BREAKING | Child dies after being left in hot car while mother taught at Ontario high school, mayor says
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.

Trudeau announces new Russia sanctions after Zelenskyy address at G7 summit
Canada will add 74 more people and businesses in Russia and Belarus to its sanctions list, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday as he met other G7 leaders in Germany to discuss the threat to global security posed by the invasion of Ukraine.
Woman trampled, killed by horses at central Alberta rodeo: RCMP
A 30-year-old woman is dead after falling off a horse at the Ponoka Stampede on Sunday.
No 'warnings or second chances' for illegal activity on Canada Day: Ottawa mayor
Ottawa's mayor is warning the city won't tolerate any illegal activity downtown during Canada Day festivities this year, as the city prepares for possible protests.
Russian missile strike hits crowded shopping mall in Ukraine
Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian missile strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said.
'Deepest apologies': Central Alberta rodeo organizers shocked by parade float
Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
New double crater seen on the moon after mystery rocket impact
The moon has a new double crater after a rocket body collided with its surface on March 4.
New Omicron subvariant expected to become dominant COVID-19 strain in Ontario
A new subvariant of Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario, health officials say.
Amtrak train hits truck, derails in Missouri, injuries reported
Several cars on an Amtrak train derailed in Mendon, Missouri, on Monday after hitting a dump truck at a crossing and there are early reports of injuries among the approximately 243 passengers on board, Amtrak said in a statement.