Pine Shores IDA<\/a> opened its doors in Goulais River, it quickly became more than just a place to fill prescriptions \u2014 it became part of the fabric of the community. With over 38 years of experience, Sam DeSumma a partner and pharmacist at Pine Shores Drug Mart, provides the highest quality of care to his patients and has\u00a0 helped shape the pharmacy into a trusted, welcoming space where neighbours truly feel looked after.<\/p>\nFor many residents, Pine Shores IDA means comfort and connection. It\u2019s the place where they\u2019re greeted by name, where questions are answered patiently, and where a familiar face is always ready to lend a hand. \u201cWe\u2019re not just serving customers, we\u2019re serving our friends, our families, and our neighbours,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cThat changes how you approach every single interaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Pine Shores IDA expanded to Goulais River just over two and a half years ago, the team saw a need to better serve the area north of the Soo and to forge the same kinds of relationships that have always been at the heart of what they do. \u201cThe community has really embraced us and supported us,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard to build that trust, and it\u2019s something we value every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m most proud of the relationships we\u2019ve built,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cSeeing families grow, helping people through tough times, and knowing we\u2019ve earned their trust, that\u2019s something special. It\u2019s not just about filling prescriptions; it\u2019s about being there for people when they need you most.\u201d<\/p>\n
DeSumma recalls one winter when a long-time customer struggled to get to town for her medications during a storm. \u201cNow she doesn\u2019t have to make that trip,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cShe can come right to Pine Shores, and we\u2019re able to help her close to home, even deliver if she needs it. That\u2019s just what you do in a small community; you look out for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
That spirit of connection defines life in Goulais River, a mix of rural resilience, close-knit families, and shared pride in local business.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the sense of connection,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cIn a small town, your customers are also your neighbours, friends, and family. When someone walks in and says, \u2018Thanks for helping me feel better,\u2019 that makes every long day worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For DeSumma, the work is deeply personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrateful,\u201d he said, describing how it feels each morning to open the doors.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day is a new chance to make a difference, to check in with familiar faces, and to work alongside a great team that truly cares. It feels good to know you\u2019re part of something that matters to your community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our dedicated pharmacy support staff deserve to be celebrated as well \u2014 along with our nursing team of Kelly, Laurie, and Emma, whose care and commitment help ensure every patient receives the attention they deserve.<\/p>\n
That community-first mindset drives the pharmacy\u2019s future, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hope is that Pine Shores IDA continues to grow as a trusted, welcoming place where people know they\u2019ll be taken care of,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cWe want to keep expanding our services to meet the community\u2019s needs \u2014 whether that means more clinical offerings, better accessibility, or simply being here for those who count on us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pharmacy itself is evolving, and DeSumma plans to evolve with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cPharmacy is changing quickly, and we\u2019re ready to evolve with it,\u201d he said. \u201cI see my role continuing to focus on supporting our patients through more personalized care \u2014 things like medication reviews, vaccinations, and health consultations that make a real difference in daily life. As a team, we\u2019ll keep adapting to ensure our patients have the convenience and expertise they deserve, right here close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n
At its heart, Pine Shores IDA<\/a> remains what it has always been \u2014 a small-town pharmacy built on compassion, trust, and genuine connection.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re more than just a pharmacy \u2014 we\u2019re part of your community,\u201d DeSumma said. \u201cEvery prescription, every conversation, every small act of care matters to us. We take pride in knowing our customers by name and doing whatever we can to make their lives a little easier.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the heart of Goulais River, a small-town pharmacy is redefining what it means to care. At Pine…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279119,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[49,48,84,392],"class_list":{"0":"post-279118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-healthcare"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}