Community and Civic

Sam’s Place Cafe

MCC Manitoba

Building Bridges: An Opportunity for Youth with Barriers to Employment

MCC Manitoba serves local community organizations in Manitoba while contributing to MCC’s wider ministries of relief, development and peacebuilding outside of North America.

Number TEN was engaged to assist in the campus relocation search and evaluation, and to lead the design of tenant facilities and a café called Sam’s Place, for the new location in the Exchange District at 140 Bannatyne Ave.

A social enterprise of MCC Manitoba, Sam’s Place, is one of the key program areas that was featured in the new location. Sam’s Place is a café that provides training opportunities for youth with barriers to employment. The design of the café included exposing features of the historic building, while introducing fresh and vibrant elements to create a warm and welcoming environment.

Sam’s Place is a café that provides training opportunities for youth with barriers to employment.

Special consideration was also made to showcase the ‘flex space’, an area used by the Material Resources program, where volunteers assemble disaster relief kits that are shipped worldwide. Not only does this visual connection celebrate the mission of MCC Manitoba, but also sparks interest and conversations in all who visit. The oversized feature barn doors can also be opened up for overflow or event space as needed.