Contest: Show London Drugs Your Old Photos for a Chance to Win

Do you have funny, heartfelt, or age-old photos? Share them with London Drugs and the Photolab! In celebration of Save Your Photos Day on September 29th, we want to help you preserve your most treasured photographs.

Degradation over time or even an unforeseen disaster could cause your irreplaceable photos to be lost forever. By taking measures to properly save your photos, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing they are well protected. To help get you started, here’s everything you need to save your photos.

Photo Scanning Box Service

Our Photo Scanning Box Service, so you can have up to 800 photos and documents (up to 8.5”x11” in size) digitized in a flash! How the service works: pick up the box from your local London Drugs Photolab, fill it up with your photos and documents, and then bring it back to us in-store, where we’ll digitize everything for you. Once we’re done, you just pick up your original photos as well as a USB drive with the digital copies.

Portable storage and flash drive

One WD 1TB My Passport Portable Storage, and one Transcend V790 128GB Flash Drive to properly back up your photos. (Our LDExperts recommend you keep the hard drives in separate locations, so that in case of an accident or disaster such as fire or flood, one hard drive will still have your precious photos saved).

London Drugs gift card

A $100 London Drugs gift card to print your favourite photos, so you can fully enjoy them on display, knowing they’re all safely backed up!

To enter for a chance to win our Save Your Photos Day Package, valued at approx. $400:

  1. Follow @LDPhotolab on Instagram or Twitter
  2. Comment on one of our Save Your Photos Day Contest posts, and tell us why your photos need saving.
  3. Get a bonus entry by sharing a pic of your old/special photos with the hashtag #savemyphotosLD

Contest starts September 7, 2018 and ends at 11:59PM PST on September 29, 2018.


Contest rules and regulations:

  1. To enter this @LDPhotolab Save Your Photos Instagram & Twitter contest:
    Step 1. Follow @LDPhotolab on Instagram or Twitter
    Step 2. Comment on one of our Save Your Photos Day Contest posts, and tell us why your photos need saving.
    Step 3. Get a bonus entry by sharing a pic of your old/special photos with the hashtag #savemyphotosLD
  2. Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since September 7, 2017; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of September 7, 2018; (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.
  3. No purchase necessary. Limit one entry per person per social network per contest, plus one bonus entry per person per social network per contest. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time on September 29th, 2018. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.
  4. The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.
  5. There will be one (1) prize awarded to one winner: one (1) Photo Scanning Box, one (1) WD 1TB My Passport USB 3.0 Portable Storage, one (1) Transcend V790 USB 3.0 128GB Flash Drive, and a $100 London Drugs gift card, with a total package retail value of approximately $400. See details and contest dates below. Prize must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to contest winner.
    Contest dates – Monday, September 7, 2018 12:01AM to Saturday, September 29, 2018 11:59PM Pacific Time
    Draw date – 12:00PM Pacific Time Monday, October 1, 2018
  6. Only one prize may be won by any one person and household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.
  7. Selected winner will be contacted by email or on the social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.
  8. The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.
  9. London Drugs and their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).
  10. This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, an independent judging organization and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.
  11. The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

Seasonal Photography Tips for Better Fall Photos

London Drugs Seasonal Fall Photography Tips

The seasonal changing of the leaves creates a whole new visual playground for us photographers to enjoy each fall. For nature photographers in particular, it’s the dream season. Rainy skies, multi-coloured leaves, and crisp landscapes are easy to come by this time of year—it’s just up to you as the photographer to capture and frame those beautiful fall elements.

London Drugs Photolab Photography Fall

One of the best ways to save and showcase your seasonal photography is with a personalized photo calendar. Each month, proudly display a new photo you captured that truly embodies the season. For fall, we imagine a picturesque shot of vividly-coloured foliage, or maybe a moody, rainy landscape shot. The choice, of course, is yours.

The best prints start with the best photos, so as part of our Seasonal Photography series, our LDExperts are sharing their tips for achieving better fall images. The goal is to provide you with a starting point to improve your shooting, so that by the end of the season, you’ll have some beautiful new photography to add to your own personalized photo calendar. And stay tuned for more posts in the series for tips on shooting in winter, spring, and summer!

Fall Landscape Composition

Four simple ways to add impact to your scenic shots:

  • Rule of thirds: divide the scene into 3×3, and place important features along the third lines or where the line crosses.
  • Leading lines: the viewer’s eye will be drawn along lines such as roads, rivers and fences, so compose the shot so that the lines lead to the subject.
  • Frames: look for ways to surround the subject with natural frames in the scene, such as the branches or trunks of trees. This helps draw in the viewer’s eye.
  • Foreground interest: look for mossy river banks, clusters of flowers and textured rocks to lift the bottom of the frame.

 

 

Fall Rainy Landscapes

Begin with:

  • Exposure mode: Aperture Priority
  • Aperture: f/11-16
  • Shutter speed: Automatically Set
  • ISO: 100-400

Keep in mind:

  • You’ll be dealing with slow shutter speeds; use a tripod and a remote release.
  • Apply exposure compensation of +1/3 to +2EV to brighten up the scene.
  • Fit a lens hood and use a waterproof cover to protect the camera and lens.

 

Key advice: Take plenty of microfibre cloths on the shoot and use them to keep the lens’ front element clear of raindrops.

Fall Landscapes with Flash

Begin with:

  • Exposure mode: Manual
  • Aperture: f/11
  • Shutter speed: Varies
  • ISO: 100

Keep in mind:

  • Low natural light levels on a dark stormy day or at sunrise or sunset will make the light from your flash appear more obvious.
  • Choose a scene that has a suitable subject close to the camera.
  • Set an appropriate shutter speed to slightly underexpose the background.

 

Key advice: Although pop-up flash may work well, a powerful flashgun off-camera will enable you to blend in the light better.


Our Photolab Experts are happy to help turn your beautiful fall photography into something special you can display.  Visit us at your local London Drugs to get tips on creating your own personalized calendar, or get started on your own by ordering online or at our in-store kiosks!

3 Kid-Friendly Life Hacks for Back to School

Back to School Kids Backpacks Organized London Drugs

It’s that time of year again…the kids are heading back to school! It won’t be long before the chaos sets in (hello messy backpacks and busy mornings!), so we’ve compiled some smart kid-friendly ideas to start the new school year right—with less stress for parents. Here are three life hacks for staying organized and keeping your kids on time for school!

1. Keep your kids’ school backpacks organized

Are important things getting lost in your kids’ backpacks? It happens—especially with the little ones. Try creating a ‘post office’ and ‘bank’ to keep supplies safe! This life hack for back to school will eliminate any crumpled notices or lost money for field trips. Safe supplies, happy parents!

2. Speed up your kids’ morning routine

Trouble getting your kids to do their tasks and to get them out the door in the mornings? Make things fun and encourage them to tackle tasks with speed. Here’s one clever (and tasty) trick for kids to complete their morning chores. Perfect for those end-of-summer days—and your kids will thank you!

3. Use colour-coding to organize your kids’ notebooks

Do your children need some help keeping their school notebooks organized? If they’re in a rush to class, sometimes it’s hard to remember which subject is in which duotang, so they grab them all. Use this quick and easy trick to colour-code math, english, and science! Now they can find the notebook they need in their backpack—fast. Simple, easy, organized!


Are you looking for school supplies or other back to school essentials? You can find everything your children need at London Drugs in-store and online!

Top 5 Things You Need to Do Before Summer Ends

What do we love so much about the summertime? Is it the sunshine, the warm breezes, the lazy days spent at the beach or the lake? Whatever it is that you love about the warmer months, when the end of August starts to roll around, you know that the end of summer is fast approaching. You can feel it in that little nip in the air and the darkness rolling in earlier and earlier.

End of Summer Activities London Drugs Blog

Let’s try and capture some of that summer magic before the kids go back to school and we all get back to our routines—and before the rain and snow come back with a vengeance! Here are a few tips on how to make the most of the dog days of summer before the leaves inevitably start to fall.

Invite your friends and neighbours over for a BBQ

Friends BBQ End of Summer Outdoors London Drugs

Nothing defines summer quite like that unmistakable barbecue scent in the air. Before you have to pack up the grill for another year, have one last backyard cookout. Invite your friends and neighbours over, whip up a batch of fruity drinks, and throw some protein on the barbecue. For all your grilling needs, visit any of our locations for a full range of BBQ products.

Enjoy a beautiful sunset (or sunrise!)

Lake Moraine Canada Sunrise Sunset London Drugs

Head to your favourite hilltop, mountain, or body of water to catch an epic sunset. There’s something romantic and whimsical about watching a sunset, whether it’s at the peak of a mountain or with your toes digging in the sand at your favourite beach. If you’re feeling really ambitious, take in a sunrise at dawn. Currently on the west coast, the sun is rising just after 6 a.m. and setting just after 8 p.m., making this the ideal time to catch nature at its most glorious.

Go on a mini vacation

Jumping into Water End of Summer London Drugs Blog

In just a couple of weeks, the summer of 2018 will be but a mere memory. Don’t pack away the sunscreen and picnic blankets just yet! A last-minute mini getaway is a great way to experience a few more adventures. Whether it’s camping or luxury hotels, there are so many fabulous spots to escape to right here in BC. Just make sure to be cautious of wildfires in the province if you’re planning a roadtrip.

Take in a festival or outdoor theatre

Festival PNE Vancouver London Drugs Blog

Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival runs right through to September 22. The spectacular waterfront setting is the perfect way to bid farewell to summer, while you take in Macbeth, Timon of Athens, As You Like It, or Lysistrata. If Shakespeare isn’t really your speed, visit the ever-popular end of summer festival, the PNE, and dance along to the I Love the 90s Tour featuring Salt-N-Pepa, Color Me Badd, and Young MC.

Do one thing you wouldn’t do in the winter

Sailing End of Summer Sailboat London Drugs

As the seasons change, there are certain activities we ruefully wave goodbye to. Whatever it is for you, fit it in as much as you can. Sailing, hiking, taking a dip in an outdoor pool, enjoying a live baseball game, or roasting marshmallows for s’mores on the barbecue, this is it! Summer is almost over and it’ll be a long time before we see live fireworks or swim in a lake again, so let’s make the most of it.


London Drugs is your one stop shop for all things summer. Pop in to pick up everything you’ll need for your last summer barbecue or road trip.

Wahl Trimmer Contest

Wahl Facebook Contest Terms & Conditions

To enter: Comment on our Wahl Contest post in Facebook.

Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since Aug 30th, 2017; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of Aug 30th, 2018; (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per person. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time on August 30th , 2018. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.

Five (5) winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drugs’ declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

There will be five (5) prizes of Wahl Lithium Ion Power Rechargeable All-in-one Trimmers

See details and contest date below. Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. Prizes will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to contest winners.

Contest date – Monday, August 27th, 2018 – Thursday, August 30th, 2018, 11:59 PM Pacific Time

Draw date – Friday, August 31st, 2018

Only one prize may be won by any one person and household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.

Selected winners will be contacted by Facebook Messenger. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winners do not respond then they will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winners still do not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

London Drugs and their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, an independent judging organization, and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use, and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice, and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

5 More Canadian Photographers to Follow on Instagram

We <3 Canadian photographers! We’ve just climbed out of another Instagram rabbit hole, and we wanted to show some love to a few of our newest favourite Canadian shutterbugs.

Sonika Arora – @sonikaarora604

Sonika is a Vancouver-based photographer who specializes in cityscapes and landscapes. Her work is dreamy and moody, and beautifully captures the stunning vistas of Vancouver, rain or shine. Be sure to check out her Stories – she’s already made wallpaper for your smartphone for you!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfRSaPn1IR/?taken-by=sonikaarora604

Colleen Gara – @colleengaraphoto

Living in the city, we sometimes forget about the wild side of Canada. Colleen Gara is here to remind us that most of this great country is covered in wilderness, inhabited only by the colourful characters she captures on camera.

 

Ryan Holder – @lordryerye

Ryan is an Englishman living in Canada, and shows his appreciation for his new home by blessing us with his gorgeous landscape and nature photos. Who needs postcards when you have talent like this?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi10u0IlHSz/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=ci2xpbmqvlt1

Sameer Ahmed – @sameer.design

Edmonton is a fantastic city – great food, vibrant nightlife, diverse arts scene –  but “beautiful” might not be the  first word that comes to mind when you think of the City of Champions. Don’t try to tell that to Sameer Ahmed – Edmonton is breathtaking through his lens.

 

Tamarah Hodgson – @tamarah_leanne

Yes, it’s undeniable that Canada has gorgeous landscapes and cityscapes. Saskatoon photographer Tamarah Hodgson instead focuses her lens on the beautiful people of the Great White North. As one half of Meraki + Light, she captures weddings, engagements and other family events, and her personal Insta feed is full of quiet, intimate beauty from the smaller moments of her own life.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk217nKAotP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmMRzdFguPx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcViLtYFk-R/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link


Do you have a favourite Canadian photographer that we missed? Post a link to their Instagram profile in the comments!

5 Great Summer Getaways from Vancouver

Summer Travel from Vancouver London Drugs Blog

When we’re already surrounded by so much natural beauty, it’s easy to forget that there are other amazing places to explore outside of Vancouver. And they’re not far away! At London Drugs, we’re proud of our Canadian roots and we love discovering new places to travel—right here in our beautiful country. So, if summertime has you feeling like it’s time to pack up the car and hit the road, here are some great ideas for local travel this summer.

Yoho National Park, BC

760 km from Vancouver

Emerald Lake Yoho National Park London Drugs

Cruise the Trans Canada Highway to the spectacular Yoho National Park, located on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, in eastern BC. Named for a Cree expression of awe and wonder, Yoho has an abundance of natural beauty including waterfalls, 400 km of trails, crystal clear lakes, and four campgrounds. Train buffs can watch trains entering the spiral tunnels near Kicking Horse Pass.

Nelson, BC

650 km from Vancouver

Nelson BC Getaway London Drugs

Known as the “Queen City” of the Kootenays, Nelson is a rare gem. It has maintained its heritage feel while still providing plenty for visitors to do. It has more restaurants per capita than Manhattan or San Francisco, so it’s a foodie’s paradise. Wander around the downtown core and take in the restaurant scene or one of the many coffee houses or breweries. If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, Nelson also boasts impressive river rafting or kayaking on Kootenay Lake, as well as ziplining over the Kokanee Creek Canyon.

The Okanagan Valley

400 km from Vancouver

Okanagan Lake BC Roadtrip Vancouver London Drugs

Known for its sunny and dry climate, the Okanagan Valley provides a stunning backdrop for boating, water sports, golfing, and wine tasting. This region has long been a summer playground for visitors from Vancouver and Alberta alike. Whether you’re exploring the many vineyards in Kelowna, the desert oasis in Osoyoos, golfing in Penticton, or boating on Kalamalka Lake in Vernon, there’s always something to do in the Okanagan Valley.

Pemberton, BC

158 km from Vancouver

Pemberton BC Joffre Lake Getaway from Vancouver London Drugs

Most of us think of Whistler when we think of a quick getaway close to Vancouver. But just 20km north of Whistler is Pemberton, a quieter option which also has a lot to offer. There’s hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing, and fishing, to name a few. With plenty of lakes in the area, water sports are popular and visitors can enjoy white water rafting, kayaking, and jet boat tours. Pemberton is also an agri-tourism hot spot and features u-pick farms, a distillery tour, bustling farmers markets, and the slow food cycle every Sunday in the summer.

Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville, BC

115 km from Vancouver

Parksville BC Vancouver Getaway London Drugs

Located in the 347-hectare park near Parksville, Rathtrevor Beach is surrounded by Douglas Firs. It’s perfect for exploring the wooded trails as you make your way to this wide sandy beach. At low tide, the ocean recedes one-kilometre into the Strait of Georgia, providing lots of space to enjoy the sand and surf. This spot is ideal for lovers of wildlife and many varieties of birdlife, including eagles, hawks and owls. It’s also home to the Rathtrevor Beach Nature House. You will need to ferry to Nanaimo and then drive to Parksville to access Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.


Whatever sort of summer getaway you are after, there’s plenty to offer right here in our Canadian backyard. Wherever you go, London Drugs is your first stop for local Canadian products. Happy travels!

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