Roulston’s Pharmacy opens in North Gate Plaza

Roulston’s Pharmacy opened its new location on Monday in the north end of Tillsonburg. Left to right are: Kristin McDowell, front store manager; Treacy McIntyre, resitered pharmacy technician and David Lopes, pharmacist manager/co-owner. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg has a new pharmacy with the opening of Roulston’s Pharmacy on Monday.

The first business to open in North Gate Plaza, Roulston’s has been a fixture in Norfolk County since 1933. The Tillsonburg location is the company’s fifth store, and the first outside of Norfolk County.

David Lopes, pharmacist manager/co-owner, is originally from Simcoe, but now lives in Tillsonburg.

“My wife and I moved here five years ago,” he said. “We thought it was a good spot to raise a family, and plus the fact it’s central to both of our prior homes.”

Lopes, who has been a pharmacist since 2015, was manager of the Roulston’s location on Donly Drive the past four years. He suggested in February 2022 that Tillsonburg would be a good location to open.

“It took a little bit of persuasion with the owners, and the opportunity with the plaza going up,” he recounted as the factors in the decision to open in Tillsonburg.

Lopes said Roulston’s is different than many pharmacies in it’s more clinically focused and there is a large focus on community outreach. Lopes will prescribe for minor ailments, and there are clinical services such as meeting with people for medication checks. For instance, he can have discussions with patients who suffer from migraines about the appropriate medication.

Those who are diabetics would be interested in knowing Lopes is a Certified Diabetes Educator. A certification he has to renew every five years, he can have conversations with patients about insulin control, diet and other issues facing diabetics. While diabetics is Lopes’ specialty, he said within the chain, other pharmacists in the Norfolk stores are specialists in other areas, which can be accessed through Tillsonburg.

Travel medicine, or preventative vaccines for those travelling to an area where inoculations against things like malaria are required, is another service.

“If someone is going to Africa, for instance, and can’t get in to see their doctor, they can enroll in a travel medicine consult,” he said.

Once the consult is done and a prescription is given, Lopes can administer the necessary vaccines. Other vaccines and can also be given at the new store.

Roulston’s will also have home health care products, such as commodes, shower aids, wheelchairs and other mobility aids. These can be either rented or purchased. There are also wound management products, first aid supplies and ostomy supplies.

Outside of pharmaceutical products, there is a giftware section in Roulston’s 5,500 square-foot new store. The hope is to feature local products in it.

“What sets us apart is the store is divided in four - giftware, home health care, naturals, and of course, your dispensary will be a large part of it,” Lopes said.

Roulston’s already has a foot in the door in Tillsonburg as the chain services Maple Manor Long Term Care Facility.

One feature of Roulston’s Lopes would like to see operational is the clinical space. Having managed the location in Simcoe with 20-plus employees who would collaborate with a doctor, nurse practitioners, specialists and a dentist, he is open to different ideas.

“We’d be open to anybody for the betterment of the town,” he said. “The goal would likely be a prescriber.”

He is optimistic that spot will be filled.

“I do believe in build it and they will come,” he said.

Lopes has hired locals Treacy McIntyre as his registered pharmacy technician and Kristin McDowell as the front store manager, as well as two other employees.

The store will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.