From There to Here: Newcomers to St. Thomas Welcome to a new monthly series where we get to know people who’ve recently made St. Thomas their home. This month, meet the House family. When Diana House and her husband Jeff first bought a home in St. Thomas, moving there was the last thing on their minds. “We actually bought a house in St. Thomas off an Instagram post,” Diana says. “It was meant to be a rental — we were just doing a lipstick renovation.” But when another opportunity arose in London, the family made a surprising decision: “My husband said the only way it makes sense is if we sell our house in London and move to the rental. I thought, never in a million years would we move to St. Thomas — but let’s do it.” Jeff and Diana made the move in 2021 during the pandemic, with plans to stay just 12 months. But then life took an unexpected turn: “I was pregnant, and we ended up landing the deal to develop the Talbot and First Plaza, which was totally unrelated to our move, and definitely not part of any master plan.” Suddenly, their work and life shifted permanently to St. Thomas. They’ve grown to love the community and the lifestyle. “It takes eight minutes to get anywhere. We’re obsessed with Wildflowers Farm; we love the hikes at Springwater, and we spend a lot of time walking the paths in Lake Margaret,” Diana shares. “There are all these hidden gems here. It’s a best-kept secret lifestyle.” Diana also praises the small-town charm blended with elevated experiences: “Grassroots and Quay Du Vin Winery (now Sky Chase Estate Winery) are better than anything in London. And Clovermead in Aylmer is incredible for families.” As a developer and entrepreneur, Diana says St. Thomas has been one of the best municipalities to work with. “We built the Talbot and First Plaza during the pandemic, and it couldn’t have gone smoother. Mayor Preston and the city were unbelievable to work with. Same with the high-rise, it’s been night and day compared to other municipalities.”
She and Jeff are behind The Highlands, a high-end rental project next to Talbot and First. “We wanted to bring a Toronto- calibre living space to St. Thomas that’s still accessible. You can walk to Starbucks, doctors, a pharmacy, groceries, and restaurants. It’s like small-town living, elevated.” Though they originally planned to return to London, Diana says they’ve deferred building on their lot in Lambeth. “We’ve really, really enjoyed living in St. Thomas. It just feels like we were meant to be here.”
Page 8 Hometown St. Thomas • June 2025
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