Our Story
A Century of Warmth in Vancouver's Heart
Look, we're not gonna feed you some polished corporate line here. Ember on Quinta Vix has been standing on this corner since 1924, back when Vancouver was still figuring itself out.
Originally built by Arthur Pemberton - a railroad man who'd made his fortune connecting the country - this place started as his private residence. And yeah, he went all out. We're talking hand-carved mahogany staircases, stained glass shipped from Europe, the works. The guy had taste, even if he was a bit extra about it.
Fast forward to 1947, and Pemberton's daughter Margaret converted the mansion into what she called a "respite house" - basically a wellness retreat before wellness retreats were even a thing. She was way ahead of her time, that one. Had this vision about combining rest, good food, and natural therapies. Sound familiar?
We've kept that spirit alive, just with better plumbing and Wi-Fi. Every renovation we've done - and there've been a few - we've made sure to keep the soul of the place intact. The bones are still Pemberton's, the heart is still Margaret's.
A visual journey through our heritage
Arthur Pemberton's vision takes shape on Quinta Vix Boulevard
Margaret Pemberton opens the doors as a wellness retreat
Becoming Vancouver's destination for rest and refinement
Preserving heritage while embracing modern comfort
A century of stories, still being written
Major moments that shaped who we are
Arthur Pemberton completes construction on what locals called "that ridiculously fancy house on Quinta Vix." He wasn't wrong - imported Italian marble, custom ironwork, the whole nine yards.
After her father passed, Margaret turned the mansion into something actually useful - a place where burnt-out Vancouverites could decompress. Mineral baths, massage therapy, yoga before it was trendy.
Added 20 guest suites without messing up the original architecture. Took three years and a very patient architect who understood what we were going for.
Officially recognized as a heritage building by the city. Sounds fancy, but it basically means we can't touch certain things without a mountain of paperwork. Worth it though.
Converted the old carriage house into a proper full-service spa. Hot stone treatments where horses used to sleep - Margaret would've loved the irony.
Partnered with local farms and launched our dining program. Turns out people really do care where their food comes from. Who knew?
Updated all the behind-the-scenes stuff - HVAC, plumbing, tech infrastructure. Kept everything guests actually see exactly as it should be. Best of both worlds.
Here's the thing - we're not trying to reinvent hospitality or whatever corporate buzzword is popular this quarter. We're just carrying on what Margaret started: giving people a genuine place to slow down and feel human again.
Yeah, we've got the luxury touches - that's kind of expected these days. But what really matters to us is that you leave feeling better than when you arrived. Maybe you got some proper sleep for once. Maybe the spa treatment actually fixed that shoulder thing. Maybe the chef's risotto just made your day a bit brighter.
We're not chasing trends or trying to be the hottest thing on Instagram (though feel free to post - the stained glass windows photograph pretty well). We're just here, doing our thing, same spot for a hundred years.
The building's got history, sure. But it's not a museum. It's a living, breathing space where real people come to rest, celebrate, or just escape for a bit. That's what Arthur built it for, what Margaret preserved it for, and what we're keeping it going for.
Because places don't run themselves
General Manager
Been with us for 18 years, knows every quirk of this old building. If something needs fixing or finding, she's your person.
Executive Chef
Trained in France, came back to Vancouver for the local ingredients. His seasonal menus are honestly worth the stay alone.
Spa & Wellness Director
Literally wrote a book on holistic wellness. Oversees everything from treatments to our yoga program. She's the real deal.
A century of stories and counting. Maybe it's time yours became part of ours?
