There is a one-of-a-kind residence in the Lakeview neighbourhood of Regina that has stood since 1928. Nicknamed “The Doll House,” 2812 McCallum Ave. is one of Regina’s municipal heritage properties, earning the title in 1983. Built as a wedding gift by architect W.G. Van Egmond for his daughter Isabelle, the home features Swiss-chalet design with a steep gable roof, heavy cedar shingles and triangular architecture modeling in every nook and cranny of the home. But after 98 years of withstanding the prairie weather, the house needed someone to step in to maintain and renovate the property. Daniel Hunt moved in May 1, 2025, after purchasing the house a few months prior. Since then, it has been restoration central. The original wiring, including the electrical fireplace from the late 1920s, was still installed posing a large fire hazard. Hunt also soon discovered the house had never been insulated. Even the siding of the house itself needed some patchwork done to it. Not as hard of a task as finding the heavy cedar shingles themselves to replace the ones that had broke. The thick cut planks aren’t exactly as common to use today as almost 100 years ago. Between bringing the house up to modern code and re-painting the exterior, there is nobody else Heritage Regina President Jackie Schmidt would rather have up to the task. “We were over the moon when we found out who bought this house. [Hunt] has a track record of maintaining heritage properties, he understands what he has to do. he understands that he is just the steward of this property, his job is to take care of it and pass it on to the next person.” she said. With the help of Hunt, the one-of-a-kind home will hopefully stand for another 100 years, bringing joy to all those who pass by. A heritage mission Hunt himself wants to embody. “If we don’t live in these homes and value them and put our time and money and effort into them, they go by the way. My philosophy of heritage is if we want to preserve it, it has to be living, we have to live in it,” he said. Hunt’s job is not finished yet, but the doll house is breathing new life and colour into the Lakeview community. Those interested in the colourful property can see it for themselves with the Heritage Regina Walking Tours.
