We are a group of enthusiastic Do-It-Yourselfers who take pleasure in sharing and helping spark creativity! While the idea of a tool library is not new, it is the first one in Ottawa. Below is the management team of the OTL, but there are dozens of passionate volunteers, advocates and supporters working hard to make it a success. Want to join? Click here to volunteer!
Bettina
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Bettina has been honing her skills as a community connector over the last years with a keen interest in sustainability, social innovation, and meaningful experience, Bettina is also the tool goddess of the library. She is an avid knitter and fibre artist who loves to create with her hands and has a particular interest in sharing skills and passing on knowledge as she believes that continuous learning makes life interesting.
Jim
Jack of All Trades
Architect, IT Guru, and sometime poet.
If learning is out there, Jim wants to know it.
He cannot recall when he first held a tool.
It was surely before he started at school.
Born of a teacher/librarian and engineer,
It’s no great surprise that he wound up here.
If not leading a workshop or revising this page,
You might catch him performing on some local stage.
Kevin
Tool Wizard Coordinator
Kevin is a life-long maker and fixer who discovered the Ottawa Tool Library as a consequence of donating a friend’s tools at the request of his widow. One visit was all it took, and a few months later he joined the OTL as a Tool Wizard before accepting the role of Wizard Coordinator. His career is in high-tech telecom manufacturing quality – an environment of far-flung travel and long-distance email and conference-call relationships – and he loves the OTL for its fellowship and for providing the opportunity to deal face-to-face with its wonderful and enthusiastic members.
Kevin spends his spare time trying to catch up on home and property maintenance, travelling, fixing things, reading, and cooking. Stop by for a muffin.
Ben
Financial Magician
While never intending to be a jet setter, Ben is doing just that, commuting (not daily) between Ottawa and Canmore, Alberta. Ben is an avid outdoor sportsman who loves doing anything involving a bike, boards or hiking boots. Ben loves the challenge of anything new and will keep the tool library in line financially as our bookkeeper. Ben’s favourite tool is a screwdriver, just don’t ask him which is a Robertson.
Bob
WorkSpace Coordinator
Bob has been volunteering with the OTL for several years, first as a Tool Wizard and more recently as our WorkSpace Coordinator. Bob is an expert craftsman and a passionate advocate for safety. He is responsible for designing the space as well as creation and delivery of our WorkSpace safety courses.
Cliff
Chief Tool Doctor
Cliff can often be found in our Tool Hospital, fixing broken tools or assessing new donations when he's not improving the layout or functioning of the library or providing expert advice.
Jonathan
Volunteer Coordinator
Jonathan may well be the first point of contact for all volunteers. He coordinates onboarding and screening of the incredible team of volunteers for the many positions throughout the OTL. Jonathan is also a tool wizard and has been a volunteer with the tool library for many years.
He is an amateur gardener, woodworker, potter, stained glass artist, tinkerer, and musician. He is a social enterprise consultant in his day job, supporting individuals and organizations who create businesses that aspire to promote social change...businesses like the Ottawa Tool Library.
Brian
Donation & Recycling Coordinator
Brian coordinates the triage of donations with our Tool Doctors, ensuring that all tools are quickly assessed for safety before being placed in our inventory. Moreover, he sets surplus tools aside for our programs or prepares them for sale. Anything that isn't serviceable he and the team disassemble for recycling. As a passionate cycling advocate, Brian does this all on his trusty bike!
Stephanie
Outreach & Events Coordinator
Stéphanie is merging her woodworking passion with her professional skills of training delivery and event facilitation by offering fun and judgment-free classes at the OTL. She has hosted and facilitated many meetings, training courses, and even drag shows throughout her life. Stéphanie will be using those skills to host a variety of events in the community, represent OTL at different markets in the Ottawa area, and boost our exposure in general.
