Looking back at Pharmasave

With Pharmasave celebrating its grand opening this week at its new location at the corner of Scott Street and Mowat Avenue, it’s fitting to look back and see how the business first made its way to Fort Frances.
In 1948, local businessman Peter Jensen opened the original “Clinic Pharmacy” at 221 Scott St., where it stayed for 10 years before moving to 209 Scott St.
In 1953, pharmacist Wilf Sanders came from Manitoba to work alongside Jensen in his newly-constructed business.
“When I first came here, the pharmacy was in a small building in the area where the Lidkea optometrist’s building is today,” recalled Sanders.
“Eventually the business was moved to a bigger location and it stayed there for over 40 years.”
After Jensen’s untimely death in 1961, the partnership changed to include Sanders and his wife, Lyla, as partners.
“My wife was a pharmacist, as well,” he noted. “It was quite enjoyable working there at that time. Fort Frances was always very good to us and we enjoyed the time we were there.”
In 1977, Sanders decided to sell the business to Alan Block, who operated it until 1992 when it reverted back to the Sanders’ partnership.
“We had not really wanted to get back into the business,” Sanders said. “I had been working at the hospital from 1980 until 1990 and then the business sort of fell back into our laps.”
In 1993, the business became affiliated with the “Pharmasave” chain of drug stores and buying group, and continued to operate under the management of the Sanders until 1995, when it was sold to local pharmacist Kim Metke, who already owned the Fort Frances Clinic Dispensary.
“I stayed working for Mr. Metke until 1998 when I finally retired,” Sanders noted. “Being in the pharmacy business is certainly interesting but I really don’t miss it that much.
“We enjoyed ourselves very much but I am happily retired and I want to stay that way.”
Although Sanders has been officially retired for three years now, he still has pride in the business and is very pleased with the changes Metke has made to the store, in particular the move to Scott and Mowat.
“I think the move was a good idea,” Sanders said. “It is a beautiful new store and it is very nicely decorated. It is a good addition to the town.”