Back to Creston

After a sojourn to Calgary, Tracy Floer returned to Creston to raise a family and has renovated Cranberry Manor B&B

Tracy Floer is happily at home after renovating Cranberry Manor. — Photo courtesy Tracy Floer

After years of renovations, Wayne and Tracy Floer are enjoying the older home to which they've granted a new role as Cranberry Manor B&B. Tracy told us about their journey to Calgary and back, as well as about the cozy perks of an old house rejuvenated.

When you first moved out of your parents’ house as a young adult, where did you go to live?

I was born and raised in Creston and I moved to Calgary when I was 18 (years old) to go to school. I had my own place up there with a girlfriend who was from Creston also. My husband and I had met and started dating in high school. He stayed in Creston and worked and then sort of gave me the ultimatum that I had to come home. I wasn’t going to come home so I said, “See you later, buddy.” I cried all the way back to Calgary. Then about three days later he was standing on my doorstep with his suitcase. We ended up living in Calgary for four years and had our first daughter there. We didn’t want to raise her in Calgary, so we moved back to Creston and then had another daughter and have never have left since.

Can you please describe the home you live in at present?

It was built in 1912, so it’s over 100 years old. It’s a beautiful old house. It wasn’t like this when we bought it. It had been a rental run-down house for many, many years. I’d always wanted an old house. My aunt and uncle had an old house very similar to this out in the middle of Saskatchewan and I was so mesmerized by it as a little kid—I’ve always loved antiques and things. We were just driving by one day, going up to my mother-in-law’s place for Easter dinner, and they were hammering a for-sale-by-owner sign on the corner, and we thought we’d go have a look. It was a dump and we thought, “Oh, we can fix this up.” That was 15 years ago. It’s a beautiful old grand house—five bedrooms and formal dining room.

What elements of the home give you the most satisfaction?

I love modern stuff too, but there’s such warm energy in this house. Even though we didn’t raise our kids in it, it’s just such a warm, cozy place to be now that we’ve insulated the walls. It’s definitely my dream home now that it’s all finished. If I had a choice, the location probably wouldn’t be my first choice as far as a house to live in, but I love the size. As we’re getting older it’s going to be more of a challenge, obviously, to keep it up. I like that every area is a different room, unlike new houses now that are open concept. I like that too, but I love the coziness of the old houses and the high ceilings and all the stained glass windows. It’s definitely all I’ve ever wanted.