Gord Parkin packs it in after
40 years at Port Perry Pharmacy
When Gord Parkin walked through the front door of Lawrence Pharmacy, 40 years ago, the young pharmacist could have never imagined it would be more than four decades before he finally bid farewell to his business, staff and customers.
And if all goes according to schedule (there was still some last minute legal paper work to finalize when Focus on Scugog went to press), he will be finalizing the sale of his business by the time you read this article.
Whether the deal closes on February 4, as scheduled, or in the weeks to come, Gord’s retirement will make him the second longest serving pharmacist in the town’s history, and only the third man to have owned this 130 year old business, (see chart below).
After graduating Gord worked in Oshawa for about two years before purchasing Andy Lawrence’s busy drug store in 1969. Mr. Lawrence continued to assist his young prodigy part-time for five years before finally retiring.
When he took over the business Gord recalls that all prescription labels were created by typing them on a special label paper with a manual typewriter. Today the entire dispensing process is computerized, which enables them to find customers and track the prescriptions much easier.
Gord renovated his building, located at the corner of Queen and Perry St. in 1975, doubling his floor space. About 10 years later he computerized his prescription dispensing. Dora O’Connor joined him in 1985 and helped operate the business for 20 years before retiring.
Despite the large increase in competition over the years, Gord was able to keep his core base of customers coming back to his convenient Queen St. store. And he’s proud to say that he still has people coming into this store that were customers when he first came to town.
No one works at the same profession, in the same building and the same town for 40 years without having loved their job and Gord is no exception. And it’s that interaction with his customers and staff that he will miss most.
But, at least for a short time, Gord will help the new owners get settled into their new environment. The new owners will be introduced when the sale of the business is officially completed.
By J. Peter Hvidsten
Focus on Scugog
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PHARMACY
Although it’s been known as a number of different names over the past century, Port Perry Pharmacy has only had three owners since it began in 1890. Following are the original store names, owners and the tenure of each as a pharmacist.
• The Phoenix Drug Store
Albert J. Davis: May 1880 - April 1930 (50 years)
• A. M. Lawrence Drug Store
Andy Lawrence: April 1930 - Nov.1969 (39 years)
• Port Perry Pharmacy
Gord Parkin: Nov. 1969 - Jan. 2010 (40 years)
Personalities
