Across North America, passionate people help out at their community Free Geek organization to refurbish discarded computers and make them useful tools again for people who need them. In the process, people build community, gain skills, and help the planet.
Our Mission
We are a technology reuse social enterprise. We provide low-cost computers, offer green solutions to unwanted and end-of-life technology, and work with partners to increase digital inclusion in our city.
Our Vision
Our vision is a city with options for access to technology that reflect people’s ability to pay, a collective commitment to digital inclusion, and the planet’s well-being.
Our History
The Free Geek movement started in Portland, Oregon on Earth Day 2000.
Free Geek Toronto (CyberEquality Inc.) launched in 2009 in the Junction as a grassroots organization. In 2011, we began running our operations as a not-for-profit employment social enterprise. In 2014, our offices moved to the heart of West Queen West, where we continue to operate today.
Free Geek Toronto is a not-for-profit organization incorporated under the federal NFP Act.
What We Do
Free Geek Toronto is a technology reuse organization in the heart of the city focusing on promoting a circular economy, extending the life of products and reducing our reliance on virgin materials. We seek out unwanted electronics for reuse and refurbishment, selling them at accessible prices. Only items that cannot be reused or refurbished are ethically recycled.
Without our commitment to environmental change, we would not have products that help create social change. We take pride in being an employment social enterprise, along with serving as a model for the circular economy and moving towards a zero-waste society.
Digital Inclusion
In collaboration with our many partners, we build digital inclusion by providing skills-building and employment opportunities to community members facing barriers to participation. Free Geek Toronto provides community members, including staff and volunteers, with economic, social, and community networking opportunities related to digital inclusion in the following ways:
- Provide meaningful employment to individuals facing multiple barriers to employment
- Provide participants with skills and knowledge in all aspects of operations, including sales, refurbishment, reuse, customer service, and recycling warehousing to increase opportunities with an emphasis on technology
- Provide opportunities to engage with the community and help the environment through hands-on training in e-waste and IT management
The participation of people from diverse backgrounds is key to our growth and sustainability. The more people involved in technology reuse, the stronger all of our future looks!
Watch our latest video about Free Geek Toronto: