A home for the ages

Fashion Stylist: Sarah D’Arcey; Assistant Fashion Stylist: Heather Nightingale; Wardrobe provided by Nordstrom Vancouver; Jacket: Marni; Shirt: Boss; Pants: Valentino; Bow tie: Stylist’s own

Millionaire Lottery spokesman Todd Talbot gives thumbs up to this spectacular South Surrey home

WORDS by Joe Leary
PHOTOGRAPHY by Alfonso Arnold + Sheila Say photography

Our healthcare system is top of mind in ways that few of us would have anticipated a year ago. Todd Talbot, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery spokesperson, is no exception.

He’s worked closely with the foundation for several years, but the importance of his connection to a hospital actively treating COVID-19 patients has never been more relevant.

“Certainly the timing [is significant],” says Talbot. “I think people’s focus on frontline workers, hospital workers and our health in general is more relevant now than it has ever been.”

He adds, “Through my affiliation with the Millionaire Lottery and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, and getting to meet some of the people who have gone through treatment at Vancouver General Hospital—that’s where it really hits home. We tend to take it for granted unless we’re dealing with it, either ourselves or one of our loved ones.”

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health’s primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. The Millionaire Lottery tickets support specialized adult healthcare and research at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.

As the host of television renovation series Love It or List It, Talbot is no stranger to fine home design, and he says the South Surrey lottery grand prize home does not disappoint.

Sprawling over 6,400 square feet in a beautifully appointed neighbourhood with stunning mountain views from the upper levels, this magnificent three-level, four-bedroom abode has a full basement and a legal suite, plus a bar, a media room, a gym and a spa.

It also offers a covered patio with an outdoor gas fireplace, a fully-fenced yard and sundecks. It has four interior fireplaces, a fully-enclosed glass elevator, butler’s pantry with wine cooler, six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, radiant floor heating throughout, motorized blinds and a fully-insulated garage.

In describing some of the notable features included in this spectacular property, the house designer Dag Mothe, of Dag Design & Co., notes that it has an open floor plan incorporated into a “transitional West Coast design.”

“We did a shallow house plan to have lots of light penetrate the house. It has an estate feel from the front, in that it is set far from the street and very wide in width.”

He adds that it’s designed to maximize the view from the front bedrooms, and makes note of the house’s two-bedroom suite with second basement access, as well as its intimate basement entertainment area.

The home was built by South Surrey luxury home builder Asghar Naeem of Falcon Developments.

It’s a prize worth in excess of three million dollars and funds raised from ticket sales—two for $100, five for $175, 10 for $250 or 25 for $500—obviously go to an excellent cause.

Every year, VGH performs more than 30,000 surgeries and treats more than 600,000 patients. The hospital treats 60 per cent of British Columbia’s adult trauma cases; a full 50 per cent of all surgical patients are from outside Vancouver.

The Millionaire Lottery runs until January 8, 2021 or until the tickets are sold out.

“We often take the healthcare services that are provided for granted in our lives,” says Talbot.

“I think especially in Canada we all have a mentality with our healthcare system that we underestimate the care that we get here—unless you’ve experienced it elsewhere in the world in a place that doesn’t have a healthcare system.”

Talbot recalls getting the flu years ago as he was rehearsing for a show in Washington, DC.

“I was in a hotel and I was so sick that I called a cab to take me to the hospital. Through the show, we had medical coverage, but the bills were astronomical and the pressure that it could put on families is shocking.”

He adds: “One reason we don’t have to shell out all that money individually is because of things like the lottery and the foundation which are raising funds all year long.”

Talbot is no stranger to the public eye, especially in his role as both an actor and host of Love It or List It, which recently concluded its run after running five seasons over eight years.

“I decided it was time for me to move on,” he says of his decision.

“As a freelance artist, doing something for longer than six months was a long time. It was a really interesting experience and so many things have spawned off of that.”

Talbot says that his post-TV-series life has given him a chance to reassess.

“I have two young kids and when you’re that busy you sometimes forget that you have to actively make sure that your relationship with your family is top of mind. The time that I have now allows me to stay connected more.”

He also maintains a connection to local real estate, continually keeping abreast of the housing market.

“I’m licensed and have a team of people that work with me to help clients buy and sell. It’s one spoke of a wheel with a lot of spokes to it.”

He adds: “My passion around real estate is really twofold: the investing side of it and the renovation side. It started off as a hobby and it just grew.”

And with his real estate background, one wonders, would Talbot relish the opportunity to sell such a property as exists at 16722 McNair Drive in South Surrey?

“It would be fun to sell this house,” he confesses. “But frankly, I rather enjoy the opportunity to give them away to supporters of the cause. Our healthcare heroes are fighting COVID-19 at VGH and other hospitals—transforming healthcare and saving lives. That certainly deserves a reward.”

Jacket: Bottega Veneta; Turtleneck: Valentino; Pants: Scotch & Soda. ALFONSO ARNOLD PHOTO

Todd Talbot 的世界：慈善·地產·家庭

作爲溫哥華醫院基金會百萬樂透彩票代言人，Todd Talbot深知新冠疫情對慈善籌款帶來的挑戰。

“顯然是時機的關係….,”他說，“人們當下的關注點在一綫工人，和醫護人員上，我們的公共健康比任何時候都重要。”

“由於經常與彩票和基金會打交道，我接觸到一些在溫哥華綜合醫院接受治療的病人。該醫院是應對疫情的主戰場，除非你親身經歷治療過程，否則，包括我自己在内，通常都認爲我們得到的醫療服務一切都理所當然。”

自1996年以來，溫哥華綜合醫院百萬樂透彩票成爲溫哥華沿岸衛生局最重要的慈善夥伴，籌集善款用於溫哥華綜合醫院，BC大學醫院，以及GF Strong康復中心的醫療服務以及研究，造福BC省民。

每年，溫哥華綜合醫院都進行超過三萬宗手術，接待六十萬人次的病人，承擔省内六成的成人創傷病例，手術病人中一半都是來自於溫哥華以外的地區。

百萬樂透夢幻屋彩票售賣一直持續到2021年1月8日，或者直至售完爲止。

“我們每天都忙忙碌碌，對衛生機構提供的醫療保健視乎理所當然，”Talbot說。“尤其在加拿大，我們對接受到的醫療保健服務不夠珍惜，除非你經歷過其他國家的醫療保健服務。”

“我記得，幾年前在華盛頓進行演出彩排時患上流感，當時我在酒店内感到極度虛弱，叫了輛出租車趕到醫院。雖然演出單位承擔了醫療費用，但是賬單數目驚人，足以壓垮病人和家人！“

“在這裏，我們個人不會為治病傾家蕩產，是因爲有基金會和彩票長年籌集善款。”

作爲一名演員和地產裝修電視真人秀“Love it or List it”的主持人，公衆對Talbot早已熟知。不過，最近他在過去八年主持過五季真人秀之後，決定更換跑道。

“我決定現在是時候掀開新的一頁，”他解釋道。

“作爲一位自由藝術家，從事某件事超過六個月已經算是夠長了。那是段有趣的經歷，而且我從中受益良多。”

儘管對高端住宅設計司空見慣，但Talbot對這次樂透大獎頭獎之一的住宅作品還是大爲贊嘆。

該座三層建築座落於南素里一個精心規劃的社區，居住面積6400平方尺，有六間臥室，八個洗手間，包括地下室和獨立套間；還有四個室内壁爐，吧檯，影音室，健身房以及水療室；除此之外，有蓋露臺，戶外燃氣壁爐，封閉型的後院可以讓主人享受隱蔽的戶外時光；而在樓上露臺則可以享受到美麗的山巒景色；值得一提的是，房屋内還設有全封閉的玻璃電梯，餐具室和藏酒間，地暖裝置，自動百葉窗，以及設施齊備的車庫，房屋價值三百萬元。

對於離開真人秀以後的生活, Talbot透露更多詳情。

“自從我停止主持真人秀之後，我和妻子在婚姻關係上改善許多。”他說。

“我有兩個孩子，當你忙個不停的時候，有時就會將家人置於腦後。現在讓我有更多時間給家人。所有爲人父母的都會告訴你，光陰似箭。當我開始主持真人秀時，孩子還是嬰兒，如今已是小大人了。“

由於與本地地產行業的緊密關係，Talbot繼續從事房屋買賣。

“作爲一名持牌地產經紀，我有一個團隊和我一起幫助客戶買賣房屋。我在地產方面的熱情是雙重的：投資以及裝修。最初僅僅是嗜好，現在一發而不可收。”

考慮到Talbot的地產背景，讓人好奇如果他來出售這座位於南素里 McNair Drive 16722 號的豪宅會是怎樣。

“出售這座住宅將會很棒，”他承認。

“不過，坦率地説，我更情願看到支持慈善的幸運兒中獎。溫哥華綜合醫院的英雄們正在對抗新冠疫情，提供醫療服務，拯救生命，支持醫院慈善的善心人士應該得到獎勵。”