New beginnings for Sam’s Place

Elmwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/04/2023 (1129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ending a long-term project can be sad, but it helps to know that the work will continue elsewhere. This spring, residents of Elmwood lost Sam’s Place, as it relocated from 159 Henderson Hwy. to 140 Bannatyne Ave., but people can still celebrate the project’s contributions to the community over the years.

Sam’s Place began in 2008 as a café and used bookstore intended to help raise money for the work of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Manitoba. MCC works with a variety of projects that help support people in need, whether through community gardens and thrift shops or advocacy and peacebuilding.

The store at the corner of Henderson Highway and Gordon Avenue hosted local musicians and later helped teach life skills to local young people.

“Part of the vision included bringing together folks from the surrounding community for conversation over coffee and literature,” said manager Alison Greenslade.

When the MCC’s Ten Thousand Villages shop closed down, Sam’s Place was an outlet for some of the unsold items that temained. It was also the home of a wooden komodo dragon named Sam. who sat on the stage during performances.

Eventually, the purpose of Sam’s Place evolved to respond to some of the needs in the community, especially the young people involved in MCC Manitoba’s Youth and Young Adults engagement program.

“We exist (and will continue to exist in the new space) to provide employable skills to young people facing barriers so that they can join the workforce.” Greenslade said.

Working with organizations such as the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation and the Winnipeg Foundation has allowed the organization to enhance its connection with programs already running in the community.

The pandemic was a difficult time for Sam’s Place, as it was for many other cafés and restaurants. The project at the new location will focus on serving coffee and a limited number of food items rather than meals. The focus will be on learning skills such as customer service, general work and life skills, and various aspects of running a business. The bookstore and stage will not be part of the new location, but the life-skills training will continue.

Many people will feel the loss of Sam’s Place in Elmwood, but its legacy will continue to have an impact on the community. As participants in the program or as customers, Elmwood residents will have many good memories of Sam’s Place.