Changing of the guard at Sharbot Lake Pharmasave

Jun 07, 2017

Sharbot Lake Pharmasave has been serving Sharbot Lake and surrounding communities for more than 25 years. Pharmacist owner, Jocelyn Whalen graduated from the University of Toronto in 1983 and in March of 1991, Jocelyn and her husband Nick purchased the Tea Room-Gift Shop at the corner of Elizabeth and Garret Street. After renovations, Sharbot Lake Pharmacy opened in May of 1991. The Pharmacy has been renovated twice since then and has become a very recognizable cornerstone in Sharbot Lake.

In the fall of 2016, Jocelyn and Nick decided the time was right to sell the Pharmacy. Jocelyn isn’t quite ready to retire, but the Whalen’s are hoping to enjoy a little bit more freedom from the demands of full time work and running a Pharmacy business.
On May 1st, Jocelyn and Nick sold the Pharmacy to a small, independent Pharmacy group based in Guelph. Redtail Pharmacies group owns and operates Pharmacies primarily located in small centres in Ontario and Alberta. In addition to focusing on community Pharmacy, Redtail also provides services to nursing homes, retirement homes and group homes.

Jocelyn and Nick wanted someone who would maintain a high level of customer service and who would be committed to serving the community. “Redtail’s appreciation for the uniqueness of small communities and maintaining the established practices made them the right fit” said Jocelyn.

Paul Thomson, Director of Operations commented “We are pleased to be part of the community of Sharbot Lake and will continue to honour the legacy of Sharbot Lake Pharmasave in providing exemplary Pharmacy services to the community.“
Jocelyn and her staff will remain at the Pharmacy and will be joined by Pharmacist Matthew Dick. Matthew is a 2016 Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from the University of Waterloo. He has spent time working as a Pharmacist in Forensic and crisis units in Ottawa and Interned at the Royal Hospital in Ottawa. He has also gained valuable retail Pharmacy experience on his clinical and co-op rotations in several locations in Ontario.

Matthew said that although he has been working in Ottawa since January, he has roots in small town Ontario. He grew up in the town of Douglas, Ontario (the Home of the Leprechauns) near Renfrew, population 300, and he said that he finds working in a small town to his liking. One aspect of the job in Sharbot Lake that he really likes is “getting to talk to people and getting to know them, which is something that does not happen at the hospital in Ottawa,” he said.

“This is my 4th week here and the staff at the Pharmacy and Jocelyn have been very welcoming and good to work with. We are off to a good start,” he said.

The Pharmacy will continue to run the Pharmasave banner at Sharbot Lake and provide all of the programs and promotions available under the popular Pharmasave name.

Please feel free to drop by and say hello to Matt, Jocelyn and all of the staff at any time.