Deane House

One of the most iconic properties in Calgary, Deane House is a century-old building that was commissioned in 1906 for the superintendent of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, Captain Richard Deane. Deane felt the previous superintendent’s house wasn’t good enough for his wife, Martha, so he had an entirely new house built for a hefty price tag of $6,200.

Over the years, the house has switched hands and relocated several times. The Fort Calgary property has served as a rail terminal, a boarding house and an art gallery. Most recently, it was acquired by proprietor Sal Howell, who, along with executive chef Jamie Harling, reopened it as the upscale Deane House restaurant. “Deane House was a dream of Sal Howell, proprietor of both River Café and Deane House,” Jamie explains. “Her goal was to create a zero-waste, sustainable, seasonal and regional restaurant that would transform and revitalize the historic building.”

Sal and her team gave the house a series of upscale renovations, but maintained most of the house’s character charm. The restaurant maintains its house-like layout, and is divided into different rooms throughout. A massive upstairs library is an ideal setting for business lunch meetings and private functions, while the garden room offers kitschy vintage seating and a breathtaking view of the house’s lawn and gardens. One of the most popular seating areas on the property,  a wrap-around verandah on the side of the house, provides a scenic, sunlit view of the surrounding area.