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
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.