Our History

Kerrisdale Pharmacy was established in the early 1970’s by pharmacist Romeo Goulet and was subsequently sold to pharmacist Odie McNeil.

In November 1981, Michael Holyk made the trip west from his home in Westlock, Alberta (where he owned Holyk Super Drug Mart) and purchased the pharmacy from McNeil.

At this time the pharmacy was located in its original site at 2142 West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale and measured only 2000 square feet.

Michael’s son Colin graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at UBC in 1990 and joined the team at the pharmacy. Seven years later, they undertook the move to their new (and current) location at 5591 West Boulevard. Shortly thereafter, Michael and Colin added a second pharmacy to the family when they purchased Hollyburn Pharmacy in West Vancouver, BC.

After 10 years in the new location they decided to renovate Kerrisdale Pharmacy, so they took over the next door site, expanded the pharmacy, added a medical clinic, and completed a floor to ceiling renovation – staying open the whole time through the construction dust and disruption in order to provide the top notch service that their clients had become accustomed to. A daunting task to say the least!

Shortly after moving the pharmacy in the 1990’s, pharmacist Eugene Mar joined the team and now shares the management duties of the pharmacy as Assistant Pharmacy Manager.

Since this time, Colin and Eugene have helped turn the pharmacy into a neighbourhood icon thanks to their diligent focus on comprehensive health care, a wide scope of services including compounding, and good, honest empathy for each person who walks through their door.

“The hours are long, but there’s a real sense of family between us and our customers, so the effort is worth it,” Colin says.

Our pharmacists and staff wish to thank you and the many people who have supported us over the years and continue to use our pharmacy.