Most individuals run away from messes, however one Cambridge, Ont. man runs towards them.
That’s as a result of 32-year-old Kris Ibbotson has a ardour for vacuum cleaners.
Within the crawl area of his house, the place he lives together with his mom, there are about 100 vacuums.
Ibbotson, who was identified with autism at a younger age, has at all times been fascinated by vacuums – their completely different styles and sizes, in addition to classic vacuums too, together with a Hoover from the Nineteen Forties.
Due to this, he’s earned fairly the nickname.
“The Vac Man,” Kris advised with pleasure.
All of the vacuums are both donated or rescued from the trash together with the highway.
In fact, Kris does have favourites.
“Well, there are the Kenmore ones. They’re my favourite. The Electrolux. The old vintage Electrolux is right there. That’s my favourite,” he stated, then took a pause earlier than persevering with. “There’s other favourites. TriStar, Miracle Mate, the vintage Hoover.”
Regardless of being 6’6,” cruising within the crawl area is the place Kris is most comfy. He makes use of a dolly, of kinds, to glide round.
Kris Ibbotson, 32, sits amongst a number of the classic vacuums within the crawl area of his house. (Spencer Turcotte/)
His mom hopes he can flip the passion right into a enterprise, as a result of Kris additionally repairs vacuums.
“Curiosity. Taking them apart, putting together, taking apart, putting together and most of it is self-taught,” Georgina Ibbotson stated.
Throughout his interview with , Kris confirmed off all of the spare elements he has, together with hoses, wands and filters. He additionally demonstrated the place, on the hose, is probably to get broken and the way he would repair it.
“That Kenmore over there, I have to connect the wires to it,” Kris defined, pointing to one in every of his present repairs.
The breadth of expertise and data required to repair the machines is one thing his mom might’ve by no means imagined for her son. When Kris was first identified with autism, she was initially advised he might by no means speak.
“It’s a major relief on my mind that he’ll be able to take care of himself in some way when I’m not here,” she stated, by way of tears. “There’s no words. There’s absolutely no words to express. It’s gone from hopelessness, to where we are today.”
As Kris transitions from volunteer repairs and cleanings to extra of a enterprise mannequin, the mother-son duo are assured it received’t suck the enjoyable out of what he does because it’s all he’s ever wished to do.
If you happen to want to donate a vacuum to Kris, or get one repaired by The Vac Man, you may contact his mom right here: [email protected]
