Photo description:

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Saturday Special, Merchants Corner Selkirk Avenue at Andrews St. Photo of Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies Prof Jim Silver, who is very excited about the centres grand opening after 7 years in the works. Feature story on the new Merchants Corner (formerly Merchants Hotel), Inside and outside the once-notorious now newly renovated building that’s having a grand opening Saturday. It’s touted as an innovative educational, student housing and retail complex - a beacon of hope for the community and a tipping point in the future for Winnipeg’s inner city – socially and economically. The new facility features 30 units of affordable housing and will be an educational hub hosting the University of Winnipeg’s Department of Inner-City Studies and CEDA-Pathways to Education program. Carol Sanders story – EMBARGOED TIL SATURDAY. April 24, 2018