Current EVENTS
Deane House hosts
Vancouver Island Collective
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6:00pm
Multi-Course Dinner
Wine Pairings
Island Stories from Pluvio Restaurant, Fox and Monocle, Wild Mountain, Ugly Duckling
Deane House is proud to host the Island Restaurant Collective, an initiative rooted in collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the exceptional culinary landscape of Vancouver Island. Built on the idea that hospitality thrives through community, this collective brings chefs and restaurateurs together to exchange ideas, celebrate regional ingredients, and honour the farmers, fishers, and creatives behind them. Through collaboration, we aim to help shape and share a culinary story that reflects the land, the people, and the craft that make Vancouver Island cuisine truly distinctive.
Hosting the Island Restaurant Collective at Deane House allows us to share their story while celebrating the local food and wine that define their region. This dinner collaboration creates a meaningful connection between Calgary and Vancouver Island, with the hope of inspiring our guests to experience the island firsthand and support the restaurants, producers, and communities that make its culinary scene so special.
About Pluvio Restaurant + Rooms and Co-owners Warren Barr and Lily Verney-Downey
Pluvio restaurant + rooms, owned and operated by Warren Barr and Lily Verney-Downey, opened in April 2019 in Ucluelet after the couple found the perfect opportunity to purchase Norwoods restaurant and its land. Shortly after opening, it was named the 4th Best New Restaurant in Canada by enRoute Magazine, and by 2022, it was recognized as Canada’s Best Destination Restaurant and 37th Best Restaurant by Canada’s 100 Best. Warren, a BC native, began his culinary career at Doc Morgans Pub on Bowen Island, apprenticed at Vancouver’s Le Crocodile, and held his first Chef position at The Inn at Bay Fortune in PEI, where he embraced local cuisine. After years of seasonal work in PEI and Montreal, he returned to the West Coast as Executive Chef at the Wickaninnish Inn for six years before settling in Ucluelet. Pluvio is dedicated to offering a seasonally inspired menu featuring the finest ingredients from local farmers, fishers, foragers, and producers.
About Wild Mountain and Executive Chef Oliver Kienast
In a converted fisherman's hut overlooking the ocean, Wild Mountain offers a seasonal changing menu inspired by their relationships to their farmers. Small bites, shared plates, and food cooked in the wood fired oven, all served in the warm and cozy cottage, or out on the patio in the sunshine.
About Fox & Monocle and Co-owners Tracie Zahavich and Ross Bowles
Fox & Monocle is a bakery by day and a restaurant by night, tucked away in Canoe Cove Marina in North Saanich on Vancouver Island. Rooted in a love for casual European dining, Fox & Monocle serves European-inspired comfort food that feels both familiar and thoughtfully crafted. Created by owners Tracie Zahavich and Ross Bowles, the café is inspired by flavours and dishes that spark a sense of nostalgia. Food that’s classic, beautifully executed and meant to be enjoyed without pretense. The result is an inviting, relaxed space where guests feel at home, whether stopping in for a pastry or settling in for an evening meal.
About Ugly Ducking and Chef Corbin
Since opening in February of 2023, Ugly Duckling has made its mark as one of Vancouver Island’s best and most innovative dining experiences. Recognized as Victoria, BC’s Best New Restaurant by YAM Magazine, and long-listed as one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants for 2023 by Air Canada’s En Route Magazine, Ugly Duckling seeks to create inventive and original dining experiences centered around the magical place they call home.
About Deane House and Chef de Cuisine Jessica Stapley
Award-winning Deane House Restaurant and Garden in Calgary’s historic Inglewood is where past and present come together in a beautifully reimagined heritage home. Surrounded by lush gardens and thoughtfully designed dining rooms, Deane House offers a refined, yet welcoming experience rooted in place. Led by Chef Jessica Stapley, the culinary team works closely with local farmers, ranchers and growers to create seasonally driven menus that celebrate a contemporary Canadian cuisine.
About River Café and Executive Chef Kristen Livingston
River Café, one of Calgary’s most celebrated restaurants, is renowned for its stunning Prince’s Island Park location and commitment to regional, seasonal ingredients that embody a true ‘taste of place.’ Led by Executive Chef Kristen Livingston, the kitchen follows a thoughtful approach to sourcing, preparation, and service. A leader in sustainability, River Café continually innovates to reduce its footprint and support a thriving community. Consistently recognized among Canada’s top dining destinations, it currently ranks 47th Best Restaurant on Canada’s 100 Best and was awarded Canada’s Most Eco-Friendly Restaurant in 2022.
Past EVENTS
Poplar Grove Wine dinner
Saturday November 8, 2025
6:00pm
Special Guest Stefan Arnason, Executive Winemaker
Join us for a memorable night in The Library with Stefan Arnason of Poplar Grove who will lead you through the history, his stories and the unique flavours of his award winning wines. River Café Executive Chef Kristen Livingston and Deane House Chef Jessica Stapley are in the kitchen creating a multi-course menu to pair with each wine.
About Poplar Grove Winery
Founded in 1993, Poplar Grove Winery is one of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench. Tony and Barb Holler purchased the winery in 2007 with the long-term vision and commitment to building one of the most respected wine growing estates in Canada. Their sons, Chris, Andrew, Matthew and Eric farm more than 160 acres of estate vineyards with care. Together, they share a commitment to express the incredible diversity of the Okanagan Valley. The Hollers are leading the journey to put Okanagan Valley wines on the map with an unwavering commitment to traditional farming and winemaking principles. Poplar Grove is widely recognized for crafting benchmark Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc as well as multiple varietals and exceptional blends. Estate Grown. Locally Farmed. Family Owned.
About Stefan Arnason, Executive Winemaker
Originally from Port Moody, B.C., Stefan Arnason’s path into winemaking began at home, making wine alongside his father. His curiosity soon grew into a professional pursuit while studying food technology at BCIT in Burnaby, where he developed a fascination with fermentation. That passion blending wine, geography and history led him first into craft brewing before he shifted to wine, working the 2003 harvest in the Okanagan Valley. By 2007, Stefan had made the bold decision to relocate with his wife Julie and their children, Coryn and Simon, to Summerland.
Stefan joined Poplar Grove Winery in 2008 and this year marks his 17th vintage. A defining milestone came in 2012 with the move to the state-of-the-art production facility on Tupper Avenue, a project that allowed him and his team to build a safe, efficient space while seamlessly scaling production from 10,000 to over 55,000 cases annually. His approach to winemaking is rooted in both craft and curiosity, with every vintage offering the chance to push boundaries while honouring Poplar Grove’s legacy.
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Call 403-264-0595 or email info@deanehouse.com for further details.