Our continued commitment to help keep residents informed and communities strong

 

People are staying home and staying local. And because of this, we are forming new habits that reflect ‘old’ ways. We are ‘staying put’ in our neighbourhoods and we are living life, more simply.Living simpler includes how we consume and respond to news updates and changes in our lives right now.

We are eating at home more, sitting down with our immediate family members, talking about the day’s events and watching the 6 pm newscast, together. And through all of this, local news organizations, including community newspapers, have been on the front lines providing vital information.

In towns and municipalities dotted all across Canada, daily and weekly newspapers and community publications help keep residents informed and communities strong.
But the vital news coverage and community-building they provide is imperiled. Almost overnight, community newspaper advertising revenues have collapsed and some major retailers have decided to cut back on their flyer distribution or have stopped printing flyers altogether.

London Drugs knows that for many people in our smaller communities especially, these publications are an essential source for news and information and something residents look forward to. We know many of our customers enjoy the ritual of reviewing the flyers, planning their shopping trips and will potentially rely now more than ever on printed flyers to find the best prices on products they want and need every day. Whether it is comparing and finding the best prices on vitamins or learning about new innovative products landing in stores, the printed flyer is still read by many.

We know printed flyers are crucial for community newspapers especially during these challenging times. We are hearing about newspapers that are running at below cost, and they are doing everything they can to stay afloat.
At a time when so much is changing and out of our control, we believe in maintaining what we can.

We are continuing our commitment to print our flyers and distribute them through community newspapers. This helps to support 80+ local publications in communities throughout Western Canada. And our customers who crave our physical flyers, will still get what they need.
For 75 years the London Drugs family has worked hard to provide essential products and services to families across Western Canada. Now we are working more diligently than ever before, to provide these services while keeping our staff and customers healthy and safe. We are committed as ever, to supporting our customers, neighbourhoods and local communities during these challenging times.
We’ll get through this, together.

London Drugs expands COVID-19 Community Support Program connecting United Way volunteers with neighbours in need

April 10, 2020 – London Drugs is expanding its community support program launched a few weeks ago, to continue to help more seniors and vulnerable individuals who are self-isolating. Starting in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with potential expansion to more areas, a new collaboration with United Way connects ready and willing volunteers with vulnerable people right in their own neighbourhood – offering to help with food delivery, home maintenance work and other assistance during COVID-19.

“Since launching our Seniors Support Program a few weeks ago, we have helped hundreds of seniors with a variety of requests from sourcing important products to making special direct deliveries quickly, to their homes,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs president and chief operating officer. “Supporting United Way’s “local love in a Global Crisis” is a natural extension of the community outreach our support team has been providing. We need to help as many people as possible during this time of crisis and we need to get the word out to the most vulnerable in our communities that help IS available.”

When customers are shopping at London Drugs in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley for their essential items, they will now see United Way “local love in a Global Crisis” postcards which they can pick up and drop off to their neighbours’ mailboxes and front doors. The postcards indicate help is available and provides the contact information for a United Way community engagement specialist in their neighbourhood.

Individuals in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley in need of assistance can also fill out United Way’s online form. The pre-screened volunteers are ready to help with grocery or prescription deliveries, a referral for financial assistance, assistance with technology, or even social connection via a friendly phone call.

“We’ve had an overwhelming number of volunteers come forward through this crisis,” said Kim Winchell, Director, Social Impact, United Way of the Lower Mainland. “So many people are looking for ways to counteract their feelings of stress and restlessness by helping out. It’s really been incredible to see neighbours helping neighbours. In many cases, they are making life-saving connections in the communities where they live.”

“The physical distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 changes how we can offer support, but we continue to find new and caring ways to take care of people every day,” said Mahlman. “A simple act of local love can go a long way to ensure that everyone in our communities gets the help they need during these challenging times.”

London Drugs will also be accepting at till donations for the United Way in all 82 stores and online at LondonDrugs.com. Funds raised will go directly to United Way initiatives supporting those most affected by COVID-19.

United Way’s “local love in a Global Crisis” supports five key areas:

  1. Basic needs: Ensuring people have access to basic essentials such as food, personal hygiene products, etc.
  2. Help to seniors: Ensuring vulnerable people who are isolated, are also supported.
  3. Capacity for community services: Ensure that community partners can continue to do their vital local work.
  4. Mental health support: Enable crisis lines and system navigation services.
  5. Support for volunteers: Ensuring volunteers receive the support they need to carry out their acts of local love.

A reminder seniors outside of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley who are self-isolating and need assistance with basic necessitates or medications can email SeniorsSupport@LondonDrugs.com. London Drugs’ seniors support team is available around the clock to help. Caregivers, family members and neighbours can also email on behalf of someone they know who is in need.

See all of our updates and community support initiatives related to COVID-19

Important update from Clint Mahlman, President & COO of London Drugs

To our valued customers,

In these rapidly changing times, it is important for us to stay connected and informed more than ever.  Please take a few minutes to hear how everyone at London Drugs is working to support you and our communities during this time.

From our London Drugs family to yours,
Stay well and stay safe.

See all of our updates and procedures regarding COVID-19

Show Your Appreciation for Frontline Workers!

With healthcare workers putting in their hours during this time, it’s nice to let them know how grateful we are. You can show your appreciation for our healthcare workers during National Caregivers Day by downloading this free “Thank You” colouring sheet for your little ones to colour in. Once it’s finished, post it on your window, take a photo of it for social media and tag us for a chance to be featured!   Download and print the colouring sheet here.

 

Need to shop? #ShopSmart

Precautions and guidelines grocery and drugstore shoppers should follow during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep customers, retail employees and communities across Canada safe.

BEFORE WE SHOP

  • If you’re sick, or have been asked to quarantine at home, don’t go to your local grocery or drugstore. Use contactless delivery and have someone drop them off at your door, knock, then retreat to a safe distance!
  • While we all feel isolated and look for ways to fill our days, to keep our loved ones busy, we need to remember that we must avoid planning our grocery or drugstore trips with others in tow. Just designate one person to shop! Shop alone.

WHILE WE SHOP (alone)

  • Practice Physical Distancing – 2M or 6ft. (That’s the length of an average hockey stick 😊)
  • Be considerate. Only buy what you need! Only touch what you take.
  • Wash your hands before and after you shop and use sanitizer whenever you can.
  • When paying for your goods, use contactless debit or credit / tap wherever possible.
  • If you use re-usable bags – wash them before and after your shopping trip – and if possible, bag items yourself – or don’t use them at all right now.
  • Be kind – we are all in this together.

ALWAYS – WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY WORKING TOGETHER

  • Be considerate. Listen to the authorities … they have our best interest in mind and by following these tips, we’ll get through this crisis.
  • We all have a role to play in keeping these retail environments safe for employees and customers.
  • Shop Smart!

https://vimeo.com/retailcouncilofcanada/download/403706998/19b66f7f8e

 

https://vimeo.com/retailcouncilofcanada/download/403706998/19b66f7f8e

March 28, 2020 update from Chris Chiew, London Drugs General Manager of Pharmacy, regarding working hard to keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe

To our dear patients and customers,

We would like to take just a couple minutes of your time, to let you know what all of us at London Drugs are doing to help keep you and your loved ones, healthy and safe.

Here is an important video message from our General Manager of Pharmacy, and member of London Drugs Executive Committee, Chris Chiew.

From our London Drugs family to yours,

Stay well and stay safe.   

With door-to-door sales currently not an option, London Drugs steps up to distribute Girl Guide cookies in stores and online

UPDATE (September 9): Through the overwhelming support of our customers, we have proudly helped the Girl Guides of Canada raise $905,540 in cookie sales! We continue to be amazed by the generosity of our customers and communities we serve.

 

March 25, 2020

Upon learning of the challenges Girl Guides of Canada face with 800,000 boxes of cookies needing to be sold to support ongoing programs in B.C., London Drugs is extending a helping hand. As of this afternoon, residents in British Columbia’s lower mainland will begin to see Girl Guide cookies in London Drugs stores, and in the coming days, Girl Guide cookies will soon be available for thousands of Canadians through London Drugs’ 82 stores across Western Canada and online at https://www.londondrugs.com/.

“Since 1927, Girl Guides have been going door-to-door selling cookies to support our wide range of programs for girls and young women in our communities,” said Diamond Isinger, provincial commissioner for BC, Girl Guides of Canada. “With physical distancing being so critical in Canada right now, we know door-to-door and public sales are not an option at this time, and we need to get creative. London Drugs has come forward with the offer to provide significant logistical support to safely get our cookies into the homes of British Columbians and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Most families have had connections to Girl Guides at some point in their lives,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs president and chief operating officer. “And certainly, all Canadians have enjoyed Girl Guide cookies and supporting their important programs. During this time of great change and chaos thrown into how businesses, non-profits, on how all of us work and live, if we can find new ways to support each other, then this is a bright light during a time that is shrouded in grey.”

All sales of the cookies will go directly to Girl Guides of Canada; London Drugs is simply providing a safe distribution network.

“Thousands of Girl Guides are staying home for everyone’s health and safety, while looking at their boxes of cookies and wondering how they can get them sold to support their empowering Guiding activities when in-person programs can resume,” added Isinger. “It is such welcome news knowing we have a business that is stepping up to help us find a solution.”

London Drugs has picked up more than 1000 cases/12,000 boxes of cookies that will be available as of the afternoon of March 25 at all London Drugs stores in the lower mainland. Following that, London Drugs will be working with the Girl Guides of Canada to find routes from other hubs and warehouses, to get these cookies distributed to Canadians, across the country.

ABOUT GIRL GUIDES OF CANADA

Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada (GGC) empowers every girl in Guiding to discover herself and be everything she wants to be. In Guiding, girls from 5-17 meet with girls their own age in a safe, inclusive space to explore what matters to them. With programming options ranging from innovative STEM activities to outdoor adventures and discussions on mental health and healthy relationships, girls in Guiding can customize their experience to dive into the topics relevant to them – all with the support of engaged Guiders who are committed to positively impacting their lives. Guiding is all about supporting girls as they take on challenges and grab hold of every opportunity that comes their way. Girl Guide cookies is the official fundraiser for Girl Guides across Canada. The money raised through cookie sales funds innovative and dynamic programs for girls. Over 6 million boxes of cookies are sold each year and Girl Guides have been selling cookies since 1927. For more information visit GirlGuides.ca and follow @girlguidesofcanada on Instagram or @girlguidesofcan on Twitter.

 

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