London Drugs Blog

Free gifts and coupons!

2012-05-17T12:48:00.001-07:00

Right at the front entrance of London Drugs store is a display that usually holds the latest flyer or issues of the "better care" magazine. But right now you should grab what it's holding until June 6—the Amazing Coupon Savings Event Book.

A few times a year, London Drugs puts together this coupon and gift book. There are savings on things like cosmetics, hair care, food, kitchen appliances, vitamins…almost everything. And who doesn't want to save more money and those everyday items you need anyway?

Here are some of the things that stood out for me in this book.

Free Hand Vac OR $10

I have a friend who's been shopping for a vacuum. By shopping, I mean looking around at vacuums until the day hers stops working altogether. On page 6, there are 3 vacuum choices—all of which come with a sweet gift. The choices here cover the range of simple to heavy-duty vacuums, so all the bases are covered.

Finally, vacuums are exciting. Playing along at home? Go to page 6.

Free Marcelle Cleansing Cloths

I love these particular cloths, and now if I buy one of 4 specific Marcelle products, I'll get a package of the cloths for free. I like free. I know you have to want one of the 4 products to take advantage of this, but I've been reading a lot about Beauty Balms, and this might be a good time to try one out.

Free is good. This freeness is on page 8.

Handy iPhone App

Maybe if we all download this it will guarantee long-lasting summer weather? I can hope. On page 12 there's info on downloading the Coppertone Sun Smart™ App. It's a neat app that tells you the current UV index based on your location. It also has information about UV, lets you set sunscreen re-application reminders, and gives you access to Coppertone coupons. Not bad!

Free Shave Gel

I vowed just yesterday to take a break from buying those bags of disposable razors. They save money, sure, but they don't always make for a good shaving experience. On page 21 I can buy a better razor and get a free Skintimate Gel, a brand I really like. This is one of those deals that won't make front page news, but it comes at the exact time I need it.

Free pedometer

My mom recently had heart surgery and has a strategic fitness plan to get back to full health. She also has high blood pressure, so this free gift offer comes at the perfect time. The pedometer counts steps, so she can easily increase her activity day-to-day and KNOW she's improving instead of using her best guess that she's getting more exercise.

For my mom, this gift has a very practical use. Check it out on page 22.

Pick up your copy of the Amazing Coupon Savings Event Book and let me know what your favourite deal is!

Nala 

London Drugs Fan

Nala Henkel, a former employee and current contract proofreader for London Drugs, is a self-confessed fan of our store. We've invited her to share her quirky perspective on all things London Drugs from a consumer's point of view.

Support our Troops

2012-05-17T10:13:00.002-07:00

Sound of Freedom is an innovative collaboration between the musicians of the Canadian Forces and civilian singers and songwriters. This album was created in order to raise funds and awareness for the Support Our Troops Fund.

All proceeds from the sales of this CD will go to the Support our Troops Fund.

Featuring:
Hector the Hero (instrumental)
Invisible (Alexandria Beck)
All for the First Time (Alexandria Beck)
Hell and Back (Alan Frew and Annie Villeneuve)
Somewhere in teh World (Mark Masri)
A Long Drive Home (Alexandria Beck)
It's a Fine Line (Alexandria Beck)
Diamonds from Drops of Rain (Luke McMaster)
I Could Never Lie to You (Alan Frew)
You Keep us Free (Alexandria Beck)
Love Will Find You (Alexandria Beck)

Bonus Tracks:
Diamonds from Drops of Rain - Remix (Luke McMaster)
Invisible - Remix (Alexandria Beck)

To pre-order your copy today click here

London Drugs deploys iPads to Staff across 74 stores in Canada to help customers

2012-05-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Western retailer London Drugs has announced the deployment of iPads to their staff across their 74 locations across Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB) to assist customers with real-time research and price comparisons. Customers should notice the rollout happening during the next two weeks, as noted in the press release they sent us:

“At London Drugs, we know we have the right prices and highly educated staff in our stores and so this new ability for the customer to see first-hand information at the purchase decision further affirms this superior service commitment to our customers,” says Wynne Powell, London Drugs president and CEO. “Providing access to open information allows the customer and our staff to engage in a fully knowledgeable discussion about a product with the aid of online research at their fingertips.”

The iPads will enable staff to engage with customers and through their social media channels such as twitter and Facebook, and their extensive list of London Drugs blogs about beauty, technology and more. The iPads will most likely be used primarily in the computers and electronics departments but will eventually spread to other departments as well.

This is a fantastic idea by London Drugs. Now you can make pricematching even easier for goods, instead of bringing up competitor websites on your ‘tiny’ iPhone screen.

What also makes London Drugs a cool store is the amount of things they will gladly recycle for you, such as styrofoam, smoke alarms, non-rechargeable batteries, old plastic insurance folders, fluorescent light bulbs, small appliances and VHS tapes.

iPadinCanada
Gary Ng

Love it? Hate it? Use it, rate it!

2012-05-16T13:28:00.001-07:00

Enter for a chance to WIN a $2000 London Drugs Gift Card In the Love it, hate it, use it, rate it! Contest.
It's easy to enter. Simply login to your user account, rate and review any product on londondrugs.com, and you'll be entered. The more products you rate and review, the more chances you'll have at winning!

Step 1: Find the product you want to review on londondrugs.com
Step 2: Click the "Write a Review" link
Step 3: Login or Create a Free account
Step 4: Write your Review. That's it!

*New users will be required to create a free account.

Click here for official Contest Rules
Click here for review Guidelines

Home Organization Pain Pt. 1—Home Office Hurricane

2012-05-10T13:01:00.002-07:00

I'm one of those people who have to trick themselves into cleaning and tidying up by calling it organizing. I'm not sure why, but there it is. So as I looked at my office desk after doing my taxes, I thought out loud "Wow, I have to really organize my space up!"

My taxes are a combo—self-employed and personal. The self-employed side means I have to dig through my mortgage statements, find my insurance form, pull together all my fuel receipts...it leaves my space looking like that aftermath of a tropical storm. This is because I'm not careful in my paper search by replacing the file folders and not-needed papers as I should. No, when I find what I'm looking for I do a happy dance and go back to calculating, leaving everything unfiled and unreplaced. I rationalize this by saying it makes the organizing easier.

I have enough furniture—filing cabinet, bookshelf, and desk. It's really about what I do with all those bits of paper that come in the mail and out of my computer. Here's how I sorted that out:

Figure out where I'm failing—the things that don't get filed
Create a system that I will actually use—the filing cabinet is not working
Start fresh—cycle out and store everything 2011

Things that don't get filed

I was letting the utility bills pile up on top of the filing cabinet after I paid them. That's close, but it's not close enough. I bought a version of this and keep it under my desk, right beside my chair. Now I pay the bill, write down the confirmation code and file it right away. Score!

Argyle is awesome!

Create a system

There are bills I pay that need to be set aside for tax purposes, while others are strictly personal. The personal ones I used to file away in a holder near the kitchen phone, but they all migrated to the office where they clutter my brain by living on different surfaces. Now I've separated my mini folder holder into work and personal with coloured tabs. It may seem "Office Stationery 1.0", but I LOVE highlighters, so that's how I did it.

They're like felts for grown ups.

Start fresh

To move forward on the right foot, I took out all my old papers and recycled what could go and filed what I need to keep in some bins that I now store in my basement. I also replaced my inadequate desk trash bin (tall and low capacity) for papers with a larger-capacity recycle bin.

This one takes longer to fill up.

This has made me feel pretty good! I think I'm going to tackle my laundry next.

What space in your home needs organization?

Nala
London Drugs Fan

Nala Henkel, a former employee and current contract proofreader for London Drugs, is a self-confessed fan of our store. We've invited her to share her quirky perspective on all things London Drugs from a consumer's point of view.

Time Saving Kitchen Gadgets

2012-05-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Julian Sanders from @LD_Saskatoon shows off some time saving appliances. Soda Stream home made pop, Donut Maker, Baby Cakes Cupcake Maker and the Hamilton Beach Fast Pop.

London Drugs team conquers the Snow to Surf in Courtenay

2012-05-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

Big congratulations to our team from Courtenay who conquered the Snow to Surf challenge this year. The course involved Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Cross Country Running, Downhill Running, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Road Biking and Canoeing. Our team placed 105 overall and improved their time from 2011 by just under 15 minutes.

What's the deal with the Green Deal?

2012-05-08T10:27:00.001-07:00

If I was going to rank myself on a scale of 1 to 10 on how "green" I am, I'd give myself a solid 6. I would be an 8 if I wasn't clinging (for some reason) to two old cell phones and a drawer full of dead batteries. I should get a 10 for knowing I can do better!

But I have something that won't fit in a drawer—an old computer. It's been out of use for a while, and the cost to upgrade internal hardware (it's no longer compatible with the latest operating system) doesn't make sense. I've moved everything important off the hard drive, but now that I want to organize my space better I know I'm going to have to move on to the next step—letting go.

I see this all the time, so I decided to click and found www.greendeal.ca

Deep information at www.greendeal.ca

I found all the information I was looking for about recycling on the website, but I also learned more. I'm making an effort to eat more organically, and I was able to browse through a long list of organic food products. There are also categories of products with info about how they are or how they help you "green up" your living environment. This will seem very dumb, but I saw grocery shopping and recycling as separate things. I think I can push my personal score up to a 7 now!

Back to my old computer

There's no reason why anyone would want to pull a "CSI" and reanimate my erased hard drive, but the worry is still there. After watching this, though, I felt a bit better:

Other interesting stuff at www.greendeal.ca:

Old cell phones are shipped out for refurbishing. When resold, a portion of the proceeds are donated to select charities.
83% of overall materials are recovered and reused when alkaline batteries are recycled.
Each year, London Drugs recycles 9.21 millions pounds of cardboard.
You can bring back ALL your packaging materials (with your receipt) to London Drugs for recycling—in fact 137,898 lbs. of styrofoam hav been recycled, as shown here:

That's a LOT of styrofoam!

Being green

In the Green Deal Glossary, green is defined as "a way of thinking and acting, individually, corporately and at the government level, that makes environmental factors a greater part of the decision-making process." Being green for a company the size of London Drugs is not an easy task. They have to create lots of relationships and procedures, which is a big investment. It's nice to see a company commit so whole-heartedly to something so important.

Nala

London Drugs Fan

Vitamin Days at London Drugs

2012-05-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Come to a London Drugs Vitamin Days and find out more about Jamieson Vitamins. We will have representatives in store answering your questions and handing out samples and coupons for you to use. Come on by and join in!

Dates and Locations:
British Columbia
May 11
Georgia & Granville - 12-2pm
North Vancouver - 3:30 - 5:30pm
Victoria - 10-12pm
White Rock - 11-2pm
Colwood - 1:30-3:30pm

May 14
Ironwood - 11-2pm

May 15
Penticton - TBD

May 16
Kelowna - 1-3pm

May 17
Kamloops - 2-4pm

May 25
West Broadway - 11:30-1:30pm
Kerrisdale - 2-4pm

June 1
Richmond - 11-2pm
Gibsons - 1-3pm

June 2
Cloverdale - 12-3pm

Alberta
May 11
Sherwood Park - 2-4pm
West Edmonton Mall - 1-5pm
Heritage Plaza - 4-6pm
London Town Square - 11-2:30pm
London Place West - 1-3pm
South Edmonton Common - 10-12pm
Calgary S.E. - 10-12pm

May 15
Brentwood Village Mall - 11-2:30pm

May 25
Beddington Town Centre - 12-3pm

May 30
Royal Oak Centre - 2-5pm

Saskatchewan
May 11
Saskatoon - 1:30-3:30pm
Lawson Heights - 9:30-11:30

June 5
Regina - 2-4pm

London Drugs Product Showcase - May 2012

2012-05-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

This month, Roadmates, Phablets and Multi-Lifts! All on the May 2012 edition of the London Drugs Product Showcase.

Dr Art Hister - Sleeping Pills raise the risk of dying....maybe

2012-04-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

A study that’s receiving a lot attention involved over 10,000 people whose health was tracked for 3 years, and found that people who used even a small amount of sleeping pills – 18 doses a year – had a higher risk of dying than people who didn’t use any sleeping pills at all.

Further, in this study, the risk of death escalated with increasing doses of sleeping pills so that people who used sleeping pills roughly every 2nd night had about a fivefold higher risk of dying than non-users (there was also no difference apparently among the various types of pills used). Which, if you’re like me and you have to resort to the occasional use of sleeping pills, would lead to a “Yikes!” conclusion.

However, before rushing out to order a grave with a good view, there are a host of factors you should well, factor in.

First, although the researchers tried very hard to account for such differences and claim they found none, there may still be several subtle, hard-to-detect differences between people who require sleeping pills and those who don’t, such as, for example, different rates of shift work, different hormonal imbalances, differing rates of anxiety and depression (many of these being factors that are hard to detect in these types of studies and all of which carry their own health consequences) and it’s actually those factors and not the sleeping meds that are the reason for the higher risk of dying in those who have to resort to the use of sleeping meds.

Second, the number of deaths in this study were not all that high (although even one death that’s avoidable is too high) so it’s not as if the next time you have to resort to using a sleeping pill, you should make sure to say your prayers fervently that night, too, just in case . . .

Also, several studies have linked lack of sleep itself to a higher risk of premature death so perhaps this study also reflects that factor, namely that people who don’t sleep well have a higher risk of dying whether they use sleeping pills or not.

All that said, no one should rely on sleeping pills if they can avoid their use.

Also, studies have consistently shown that cognitive behavioral therapy is a terrific tool to fight chronic insomnia, so that’s an avenue that should always be followed if a sleeping problem becomes persistent.

And finally, if you do have to use sleeping pills from time-to-time, don’t panic about that, but always make sure to use the lowest dose of the weakest preparation for the least length of time that you can.

B.C. expanding Amber Alert program

2012-04-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

B.C. is expanding its AMBER alert program to instantly notify tens of thousands of civil servants, bus drivers and London Drugs employees when a child is abducted.

When a young boy went missing in the Kootenays last year, BC Hydro lineman Brian Gueldenstern wondered why there wasn't a better way to get that information out to more people, including his co-workers.

So he made a pitch to get Amber Alerts sent to all Hydro workers in the field.

Now the B.C. government has picked up his idea and is expanding the specialized instant-alert program to include all 30,000 civil servants.

Gueldenstern, who works in Nanaimo, attended a Vancouver news conference with Premier Christy Clark Friday to announce the implementation of the initiative, which will see all provincial workers receive Amber Alerts on their computers and mobile devices on a 24-hour basis.

Clark credited Gueldenstern with getting the Amber Alerts out to Hydro workers and beyond.

"It started with one person and now it is going to have a potentially life-saving impact all across the province," she said. "One person really can make a very big difference in another person's life."

Since the Amber Alert warning system was implemented in B.C. in 2004, it has been used just 12 times to provide instant information to the public about the disappearance of 15 kids.

"Every one of those 15 children returned home safely. That's the value of having eyes in the community," Clark said.

"There is nothing to compare with the terror a parent feels when their child goes missing."

Clark credited Child Find BC president Crystal Dunahee with bringing Amber Alert to the province eight years ago.

Dunahee's four-year-old son Michael vanished from a Victoria playground in 1991 and has never been found.

"I remember back when Michael first disappeared, the way we had to get information out was mass reproduction of posters and handing them out individually," Dunahee said. "Technology has come a long way."

Clark said BC Hydro, ICBC and BC Transit, as well as London Drugs are already on board with sending out alerts to their employees when they're issued. She challenged other Crown corporations and private companies to join the campaign.

RCMP Chief Superintendent Wayne Rideout said Amber Alert has been an effective tool for law enforcement agencies.

"By broadening the reach of Amber Alert, police will be closer to our goal of ensuring that every single person in British Columbia is immediately notified when a child has been abducted," he said. "The importance of timely dissemination of information to the broadest audience possible is critical in these investigations."

Introducing the Magic Banana

2012-04-20T13:35:00.001-07:00

Designed by yoga educator, Janeson Rayne, the Magic Banana® is a flexible accessory for strengthening your inner 'magical' muscles.

"The Magic Banana® assists with Kegel Exercises - the squeeze-hold-release movements that were first described in the West by gynecologist Dr. Arnold Kegel in the late 1940's. And although they have been recommended to women by doctors since then - as a pro-active natural way to prepare for childbirth, repair from childbirth, enhance sex-life and, as an alternative to surgery to prevent incontinence - it's not uncommon for women to have problems isolating the correct muscles or to know - with absolute certainty - that they're doing the exercise properly. With it's unique patented shape and uncomplicated design The Magic Banana® provides resistance and confirms that the right muscles are being worked."

The Queens Journal (Queens University Newspaper) reviewed this unique product and talks about how it can empower and improve the health of women. Click here to see article

So who can benefit from using The Magic Banana®? Almost everyone! Women who are already in touch with their bodies will enjoy its innovative design. Less experienced women, who want to explore and understand their bodies better will enjoy experimenting. Women who have given birth, will appreciate the opportunity to restore and tone their internal muscles and women who are peri, pre, or post-menopausal will enjoy maintaining the 'status quo'. The fun-to-do exercises allow you to fully unlock your personal pleasure potential.

London Drugs is serious about providing women with products like The Magic Banana that can improve their sexual health. Available in store or online.

For more information about The Magic Banana® and how it works click here

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2012-04-20T12:49:00.003-07:00

Surprise Mom with something special this Mother's Day. Something that tells her how much you appreciate her and all she does. We have some great ideas to help you show Mom just how much she means to you.

Give Mom the gift of music whether it's for her workouts or for just tuning out the noise of the day this iPod is a great way for mom to enjoy her favorite tunes.

This beautiful Jewellery Cabinet is a full-length mirror and jewellery cabinet all in one! It's a handy way for Mom to organize her jewellery in a great space-saving design.

For the Mom who loves to cook this KitchenAid 10-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set makes the perfect gift. Set contains 1qt and 2qt covered saucepans, 8qt covered stockpot, 3qt covered sauté, 8.5 inch and 10 inch skillets.

Pretty in pink! The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer works hard and looks great doing it! With a powerful 325 watt motor, all metal construction and 10 speed control this little powerhouse will make short work of your mixing needs.

If Mom loves to read the Sony E-reader with Wi-Fi makes a perfect gift. Compact and light design with 6" touch screen e-paper display and pinch zoom. Built in MP3 player and picture viewer.

The Keurig Platinum Brewer lets Mom brew that perfect cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa in just under a minute, giving her more time to relax and enjoy the day. The award-winning design features a blue, backlit LCD display that allows her to program water temperature, set the digital clock, select her favourite cup size.

Mmmm.... spoil Mom with this box of Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut Chocolates. A special treat for a special Mom.

Bring some colour to Mom's kitchen with this KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 quart Stand Mixer available in 23 unique colours. Comes complete with polished stainless steel bowl with comfort handle, 10 speed control, all metal construction, flat beater, dough hook and wire whip.

Let Mom show her creative side and turn those treasured photos into works of art. Using the YouFrame Photo to Canvas she can create stunning artwork from all those great photos. Simply select a digital photograph and print on a standard home inkjet printer using the YouFrame canvas provided.

Spoil Mom with the new Apple TV with 1080p HD. She can choose from thousands of current and classic movies on iTunes - many in amazing 1080p HD. And with AirPlay, you can play video, show off photos, and enjoy music from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on your TV.

The KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Stand Mixer offers 10 speed solid state control in a stylish design. Includes pouring shield, flat beater, dough hook and wire whip. Mom's going to love it!

Mom is going to love this gift! The BlackBerry® Playbook™ tablet is ultra portable, super convenient and lots of fun! An entertainment experience like no other. Enjoy on-demand access to music, radio and HD TV and movies with exclusive pre-loaded MusicStore and Podcast apps.

KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment is the perfect accessory for the KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Stand Mixer. It quickly grinds meat, fruits and vegetables, dry bread and cheese. Create all kinds of wonderful meals with this appliance.

For even more great gift ideas for Mom check out our London Drugs Photolab.

Seven surprising things you can recycle at London Drugs

2012-04-20T09:42:00.001-07:00

This Earth Day, take your recycling to the next level. Sort through your drawers and cupboards and see how many of these seven unique items you can collect and keep from landfill.

Styrofoam - London Drugs is Canada’s only major retailer to offer packaging return and recycling, on anything they sell. The Bring Back the Pack program includes Styrofoam, (from items bought at London Drugs) which is not accepted as part of most municipal recycling programs.
Smoke Alarms – Smashed it one too many times while burning the bacon? Bring it in and we’ll recycle it.
Non-Rechargeable Batteries - Alkaline batteries are recyclable too. We have them sent to Inmetco, in Pennsylvania, USA, where they use a High Temperature Metals Recovery Process (HTMR) to obtain an overall material recovery rate of 83%. Metals recovered include Iron, Nickel, Manganese, Copper, and Zinc. Ni-CAD, Ni-MH and Ni-Zn rechargeable batteries are also processed at Inmetco.
Old Plastic Insurance Folders – Don’t leave expired documents in your car! Shred your old insurance papers and bring the plastic to us. London Drugs also accepts all soft plastic bags, (except biodegradable bags).
Fluorescent Light Bulbs - Bring back Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs and Fluorescent Light (FL) Tubes up to 4-foot lengths, to London Drugs for safe, responsible recycling. Simply wrap old bulbs carefully in a plastic bag (a box is even better) and drop them off at the Customer Service Counter.
Waffle Maker – Need a new small appliance? Bring in your old one at the same time. Any dead small appliance with a plug can be recycled at London Drugs through the Small Appliance recycling program. All electronic products are responsibly disassembled to basic materials right here in Canada. London Drugs works diligently to ensure that recyclables are shipped to responsible recycling facilities.
VHS Tapes - London Drugs offers customers drop-off recycling for virtually all recordable media or media storage devices, when customers are making similar purchases in our stores. (Maximum 16 items at a time, please)

For more information on London Drugs’ green initiatives visit greendeal.ca. This resource for employees and customers features green deal products and specials, employee green team recognition and the green deal blog.

Healthy Heart Clinics 2012

2012-04-17T12:02:00.003-07:00

Heart disease and stroke is a leading cause of death in Canada – are you at risk?
Attend our Healthy Heart Clinic and assess your likelihood of developing heart disease, and discover which factors put you at risk. During the 45-minute consultation, you will learn how to minimize your risk and develop an action plan to fit with your wellness goals. To register, visit or call your London Drugs pharmacist.

British Columbia	Date	Time
#02 Granville & Georgia	Thurs, June 7	12 to 9
#03 New Westminster	Thurs, May 24	11 to 7
#04 West Broadway	Thurs, May 24	10 to 6
#05 North Vancouver	Sat, June 16	11 o 7
#06 Kingsway Plaza	Thurs, May 31	10 to 6
#07 East Hastings	Thurs, June 14	10 to 6
#08 London Station	Mon, May 7	11 to 7
#09 Guildford Town Square	Wed, May 30	10 to 6
#10 Kerrisdale	Wed, May 9	10 to 6
#11 Richmond	Thurs, June 7	11 to 7
#12 Kelowna	Thurs, May 31	10 to 6
#14 Saanich Centre	Fri, May 25	11 to 7
#15 Coquitlam Centre	Tues, May 22	10 to 6
#16 West Oaks Mall	Fri, May 11	11 to 7
#17 Scott Road	Wed, June 20	11 to 7
#18 Langley	Thurs, May 31	10 to 6
#19 Robson Street	Fri, June 8	10 to 6
#25 Lougheed Town Centre	Fri, June 1	11 to 7
#28 Wessex-Kingsway	Fri, May 25	11 to 7
#29 Harris Green Village	Thurs, May 24	12 to 9
#35 Kamloops	Fri, June 1	10 to 6
#36 Port Place Shopping Centre	Tues, May 15	10 to 6
#37 Trenant Park Mall	Tues, May 8	11 to 7
#39 Vernon	Tues, May 29	10 to 6
#41 Chilliwack	Mon, May 14	10 to 6
#42 White Rock	Mon, May 14	10 to 6
#44 Park Royal North	Tues, June 19	10 to 6
#46 Colwood Corners	Wed, May 23	10 to 6
#47 Maple Ridge	Mon, May 7	10 to 6
#50 Davie Street	Wed, June 6	11 to 7
#51 Prince George	Tues, May 22	11 to 7
#52 Ironwood Plaza	Mon, June 4	10 to 6
#53 41st & Victoria	Thurs, June 14	11 to 7
#54 Tillicum Centre	Tues, May 22	10 to 6
#55 Mission	Tues, May 15	10 to 6
#56 Brentwood Town Centre	Fri, May 4	10 to 6
#61 Gibsons	Thurs, May 31	10 to 6
#67 Courtenay	Wed, May 9	10 to 6
#70 Penticton	Thurs, June 7	10 to 6
#71 Marine Way & Byrne	Wed, June 13	10 to 6
#72 Nanaimo North Town Centre	Mon, May 14	10 to 6
#73 Campbell River	Mon, May 7	10 to 6
#74 Broadway & Vine	Fri, June 15	10 to 6
#75 Cloverdale	Fri, June 8	10 to 6
#76 Westbank	Mon, May 28	10 to 6
#77 Duncan	Wed, May 16	10 to 5
#78 Hastings & Abbott Street	Tues, May 8	10 to 6
#80 Squamish	Tues, May 15	10 to 6
#81 Morgan Crossing	Tues, May 15	10 to 6

Alberta	Date	Time
#20 Sherwood Park	Mon, May 14	10 to 6
#21 North Town Centre	Fri, May 25	12 to 8
#22 Jasper Gates	Tues, May 8	12 to 8
#23 London Centre	Mon, June 4	10 to 6
#24 Red Deer	Mon, May 7	11 to 7
#26 West Edmonton Mall	Thurs, June 14	11 to 7
#30 Heritage Plaza	Fri, May 18	12 to 8
#31 London Town Square	Fri, May 25	12 to 8
#32 London Place West	Mon, May 14	12 to 8
#33 Brentwood Village Mall	Wed, June 13	12 to 8
#34 Grande Prarie	Fri, May 18	10 to 6
#38 Lethbridge	Thurs, June 7	10 to 6
#40 Beddington Towne Centre	Thurs, May 24	11 to 7
#45 Oliver Square West	Mon, May 7	11 to 7
#48 St. Albert	Mon, May 28	10 to 6
#57 South Edmonton Common	Fri, June 8	11 to 7
#58 Mount Royal Village	Fri, May 11	1 to 9
#60 Medicine Hat	Wed, June 6	10 to 6
#64 First Calgary SE	Thurs, May 31	1 to 9
#68 Royal Oak Centre	Thurs, June 14	11 to 7
#83 Windermere	Fri, June 1	11 to 7

Manitoba	Date	Time
#66 St Vital Centre	Mon, June 11	12 to 8

Dr Art Hister - Who owns your health information?

2012-04-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

A common concern that pops up regularly in my email is about health records, namely, about who actually owns your medical records.

For once, I’m happy so say that the answer is pretty simple: you “own” all the health data that’s been accumulated about you, no matter where that data has been stored or by whom.

In other words, you own the record of your own health history and you own the record of your own pharmaceutical usage, although the people who took the “notes” own the actually physical source in which those notes have been stored.

But if you wish to switch health providers for some reason, the bottom line is straight-forward: you can do so and the owner of your health records must transfer that information to your new provider, something that’s much easier to do than it used to be since the widespread introduction of electronic forms of storing data.

And as always, when in doubt or if you have any questions, speak to your health professional directly about your concerns.

WATCH: The sad story of Nala's router

2012-04-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

Three times a day I lose my wi-fi signal. It's frustrating. I checked with my ISP, and it appears to be my router. After 6 years, maybe it's time for a new one?

I chatted with Shawn Krug, Computer Dept. Manager at London Drugs Chilliwack about routers and getting the right one for our needs.

Nala
London Drugs Fan

Nala Henkel, a former employee and current contract proofreader for London Drugs, is a self-confessed fan of our store. We've invited her to share her quirky perspective on all things London Drugs from a consumer's point of view.

Relief for your Cold Sores, Canker Sores and more

2012-04-11T10:37:00.002-07:00

The Lip Clear Invisible Cold Sore Bandage covers, protects, and helps conceal any cold sore for hours. The hypoallergenic bandage also limits contagious contact with the sore. Don’t infect-protect-with Lip Clear Invisible Cold Sore Bandage.

OraMoist is a time-released dry mouth patch. The patch adheres easily to the roof of the mouth and works for hours-day or night. Time-released lipids, enzymes, xylitol and lemon flavor moisten the mouth and stimulate saliva production for hours.

Canker Cover is a pill-like patch that can be applied to any canker sore. It adheres, and forms a gel bandage that relieves pain and protects the sore from irritants for 8-12 hours. Most sores treated with Canker Cover are completely healed within 24 hours.\

Lip Clear Lysine+ helps you kiss your cold sore goodbye – in half the time! This potent, all-natural, ointment never burns or stings – it soothes and relieves. Best of all, in a clinical study it cut cold sore healing time in half.

These products are all available at London Drugs.

Quantum opened its doors in 1981 with a simple philosophy: Provide natural products that improve the quality of people’s lives. Quantum offers more than 50 products, available in health food stores, drug stores and other retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada. “All of our products are based on the latest scientific research and are made to the most exacting standards,” said Quantum President Eve McClure. “Our pledge to our customers is that we will continue to produce the most effective, proven natural products possible. Also, Thanks. Our success is due to you.”

Rhinaris® Nozoil® for nasal dryness

2012-04-11T10:36:00.001-07:00

Rhinaris® Nozoil®
A clinically documented treatment for nasal dryness.

What is nasal dryness?
Nasal dryness is a common irritation. With symptoms ranging from an itching and burning sensation to the build-up of dried mucus and crusts1,2, nasal dryness not only causes discomfort but makes the nose more susceptible to germs.
Moisturized nasal passages help to ensure comfortable breathing and a healthy functioning nose.

Nasal dryness has many causes

Low air humidity, potentially due to the winter months, indoor heating systems or air conditioning
Long periods in aircrafts
Increase in age, including post-menopausal women
Damage caused by radiation treatments on the head or throat area
May also occur as a result of nasal allergy medication use (intranasal corticosteroids)

Nasal moisture and relief from dryness
Rhinaris® Nozoil®:

Provides an effective method of lubricating and moisturizing dry, irritated noses for easier breathing
Is a non-chemical and non-habit forming solution made from 100% pure sesame oil
Contains no preservatives

How Nozoil® works

The sesame oil contained in Nozoil® gently and effectively moisturizes nasal passages and reduces the build-up of dried mucus and crusts, resulting in easier breathing.
Sesame oil contains vitamin E, an anti-oxidant which protects cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. The pure sesame oil in Nozoil® has a high content of triglycerides including linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid which is an important component of cell membranes.

Quick and easy to use
The one-way valve is designed to minimize the entry of foreign particles into the bottle.

1-3 sprays in each nostril every four hours or as needed.
Suitable for adults and children 3 years and over.

What are the precautions to the use of Nozoil®?
Although it is unlikely that an allergic reaction would occur, patients with allergies to nuts or seeds should consult a physician before using Rhinaris® Nozoil®.

Because 100% sesame oil provides effective relief from nasal dryness

100% natural source pharmaceutical grade sesame oil
Contains no preservatives
One-way valve6 designed to minimize the entry of foreign particles into the bottle
Nozoil®’s effectiveness is documented in controlled clinical trials1,2
Moisturizes and lubricates the nasal mucosa

Promotes improved breathing by:

Reducing nasal dryness
Decreasing build-up of dried mucus and crusts
Decreasing nasal blockage

Rhinaris Nozoil Nasal Spray is available at London Drugs

For more information on Rhinaris® visit www.rhinaris.com or speak to your London Drugs pharmacist.

Dr Art Hister - ASA Use and Blindness

2012-04-11T10:34:00.001-07:00

Here’s yet another reason to be cautious about jumping on the ASA bandwagon. A study has linked the regular use of ASA with a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration or AMD, a very debilitating form of eye disease in which the central part of the retina, the macula, is gradually destroyed, which leads to progressive inability to see.

In this European study, people who took ASA regularly had roughly double the risk of “wet” AMD, the most serious form of the condition, compared to people who weren’t taking ASA.

Now, for many people, the benefits of taking ASA may – probably do – still outweigh the risks, but the key thing to remember is that there is no formula for this and the best thing to do (it should be mandatory, I think) is that anyone taking ASA regularly sit down and have a good discussion with their primary care doctor about the balance between the risks and benefits of ASA for their particular unique situation.

Diabetes Clinics

2012-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

On March 10, my mom had a mild heart attack. I'll post more thoughts on that down the road, but I wanted to share my thoughts on a different disease that I observed in my daily visits to the hospital.

No one in my family has diabetes. I've never worked with, been friends with, or dated anyone with diabetes. I've never gone to school with anyone with diabetes, at least not that they told me about. But pretty much any time I've been in the hospital—giving birth or visiting—someone in the room has had diabetes.

Having diabetes in a hospital complicates everything, and seems to (in my observation) slow recovery. For example, when you have diabetes in the hospital, it affects

what you eat
when you eat
the kinds of medication you take
the efficacy of medication
the length of your recovery

What I know about diabetes

As the number of strangers that I ran into with diabetes increased, I decided to look into this disease.

Type 1 diabetes is the result of your body's immune system attacking and destroying pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Because of this, people can't metabolize sugar, so it builds up in their blood. This form of diabetes most commonly appears during childhood and is treated with replacement insulin.

Type 2 diabetes appears when the pancreatic cells respond to already high levels of sugar by producing more insulin, but the body becomes resistant to the extra insulin and is unable to use it properly. This form of diabetes is treated with diet, exercise, and occasionally medications.

Here's something that shocked me:

"Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, because it was thought to occur mainly in adults, but has become much more common among children. In 15 years, it is anticipated that the global incidence of type 2 diabetes in children will increase by up to 50%."

London Drugs—Living with Diabetes Magazine, Issue 5

Click to find the clinic near you.

So to recap—type 1 you're born with, type 2 you can develop...often diet-related. It turns out that 10% of Canadians with diabetes have type 1, the remaining 90% have type 2. So eating well regularly can have a huge effect on whether or not the average person develops this disease.

One thing they do in the hospital is monitor, monitor, monitor. If you can stay on top of your blood sugar numbers, you can alter your intake of food and/or medication appropriately. If you can manage your diabetes, you can reduce future life complications.

According to the same magazine, "40% of Canadians with diabetes go on to suffer long-term complications such as blindness, nerve problems, kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.

Learning to live with diabetes

You can get really good advice at a London Drugs Diabetes Clinic. The clinics will help you interpret your blood glucose levels, assess the efficacy of your meds, educate you about insulin adjustment, and suggest strategies to help prevent short-term complications such as hypoglycemia and long-term complications such as nerve damage. Check out the clinics here:

My mom doesn't have diabetes, but she does have coronary artery disease. Diabetes can increase the risk of and add complications to heart disease, so take it from someone who's seen it—get tested, get advice, and monitor, monitor, monitor!

Nala
London Drugs Fan

Nala Henkel, a former employee and current contract proofreader for London Drugs, is a self-confessed fan of our store. We've invited her to share her quirky perspective on all things London Drugs from a consumer's point of view.

WATCH: Dr. Art on best before and expiry dates

2012-04-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

Those best before dates and expiration dates—especially on milk? Get the low-down from Dr. Art Hister.

Nala

London Drugs Fan

Announcing the Nikon D800!

2012-04-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Pretty bride model not included. Click for more details.

The Nikon D800 is a BIG DEAL for Photographers, but since I'm a small 'p' photographer, and really an iPhone photographer lately (looks away with slight shame) I had to go to an expert to get the dirt on this latest technology from Nikon.

Alex Ratson is a photographer and cinematographer, but also the assistant department manager at London Drugs in Squamish. As someone who used these exact words and punctuation when describing the Nikon D800—"outright amazing!!!!!"—I shot him some questions to get to the bottom of this exciting announcement.

Q1: In the world of cameras (from phones, to point-and-shoot to very high end) where does the Nikon D800 fit?

A1: The Nikon D800 is an entry-level professional camera that caters to two main groups of photographers; advanced enthusiasts who, although they don't make money from their work, strive for the professional standard of quality from their work; and professionals who value the key highlights this camera offers over other professional cameras (small for a pro camera body, super high resolution).

Q2: What was the Nikon D800 "built" for (what can it do), and what are some of these "amazing!!!!!" features?

A2: The D800 was built with the working professional in mind. It offers superb build quality that is capable to withstand the daily abuse a working shooter might put the camera through. It offers some of the best resolution on the market (for a DSLR) allowing a lot of flexibility for the photographer to make both large prints and aggressively cropped shot prints.

Like many other high end DSLRs they have also deployed some very capable video features. The D800 is capable of shooting full 1080P HD video. It records the footage internally in a format known AVCHD which is widely used in many other DSLRs due to its effective compression technology. Nikon has also offered full uncompressed 8-bit (4:2:2 colour sampling) via the HDMI port. This is a first for video shooting DSLRs and is normally a feature reserved for professional video cameras. To take advantage of this feature you will need to pair the camera up with a third party digital recorder.

Q3: What is the difference between the D800 and D800E?

A3: The D800E is the same camera but without the Optical Low Pass filter which on most cameras is placed in front of the imaging sensor to reduce an optical defect known as Moire.

Moire will apear in images which contain a repetitive pattern (such as the grill of a car). From an engineer's point of view, this effect will show itself whenever a repetitive pattern spatially out-resolves a sensors resolution...in layman's terms when Moire rears its head at your images, it will make those repetitive lines appear kind of squiggly. The Optical Low Pass filter blurs the image, making those sharp repetitive details a little more dull so they don't appear squiggly.

The reason why some are excited for the D800E's lack of Low Pass filter is due to it capturing the full resolution that the camera is capable of resolving. Although the camera's super high, 36 mega pixels will aid in reducing this effect as will more advanced software built into popular image editing programs, anyone who buys the D800E model should be prepared to deal with this effect as it will have a higher likelihood of appearing vs. the none E model. As a side note, there are not many cameras that do not have this filter in place, and the final outcome of its absence is not yet known, especially when shooting video.

Q4: How did Nikon improve for this camera over the D700?

A4: The D800 adds faster auto focus, higher resolution and video capabilities over the D700. The D700 was a champ and is still a highly desired camera. Many people who do not shoot video and who are not in need of the 36 mega pixel sensor (and its REALLY large files) will opt to pickup a D700 while they still can.

Q5: Who should use this camera? What level of experience should someone have to get the most out of this camera?

A5: The D800 would be ideal for the advanced amateur or professional who have a need for any of its key features such as high quality video or high resolution.

Q6: Does London Drugs offer any instruction on using high-end cameras?

A6: London Drugs offers the Photo Experience workshop. Our DSLR version of this workshop would be well suited for any new D800 owner who wanted to gain some additional knowledge on how to get the most from their new camera.

Q7: What can someone expect to pay for this camera?

A7: The D800 is available right now for $2,999.99 and the D800E is $3,299.99

Q8: When will the D800/D800E be available? Is there a different release date for each model?

A8: We have started to fulfill pre-orders on the D800. Once all pre-orders have been fulfilled you will be able to see it on our shelves. If anyone is wanting this camera their best bet is to pre-order and pre-pay at your local London Drugs as this will ensure you do not have to wait until all other pre-paid customer orders are fulfilled.

Any other comments?

Although we do not currently have any kits including lenses (I am sure we will eventually) anyone buying this camera should keep in mind that the high resolution sensor is going stress any lens to the max. It will undoubtedly out-resolve any consumer lens and you will need to use the high-end pro-sumer or pro grade lenses to get the most out of the high resolution sensor.

What are your thoughts about the Nikon D800 or D800E?

Nala
London Drugs Fan
Nala Henkel, a former employee and current contract proofreader for London Drugs, is a self-confessed fan of our store. We've invited her to share her quirky perspective on all things London Drugs from a consumer's point of view.

Travelling? Attend our Travel Clinic before you go

2012-04-05T12:00:00.001-07:00

Our Travel Medicine Pharmacists can help educate and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. Vaccines are mandatory for travel to particular destinations, and we can advise you on the medications, vaccinations and health supplies that you'll need for your trip. All London Drugs Travel Clinics are designated Yellow Fever vaccination centres.

As of April 11 you will be able to book your travel clinic appointment online at ldtravelclinics.ca

Available now at nine locations including 2 NEW locations at Lansdowne Village Mall and Trenant Park Mall. Book a one-on-one consultation that works with your schedule (a small fee applies).

For a complete list of locations and for more information on the Travel Clinics, please visit www.ldtravelclinics.ca.