Colin was born and raised in Alberta and grew up in the pharmacy business. His father, Michael, owned a pharmacy in Westlock, Alberta and Colin spent most days after school working in the store.

The Holyk family moved to Vancouver in 1982, one year after Michael purchased the original Kerrisdale Pharmacy, located in the 2100 block of West 41st Avenue. Colin continued to work as a pharmacy technician at the pharmacy throughout his school years. He attended the University of British Columbia and received his pharmacy degree in 1990 and in June 1990 started work at Kerrisdale Pharmacy as a pharmacist. Michael and Colin decided to move the pharmacy in February of 1997 to its current location on West Boulevard and 40th Avenue. Colin became the Pharmacy Manager in 2000 and one year later purchased Hollyburn Pharmacy in West Vancouver with Michael Holyk.

In addition to his regular pharmacist duties, Colin is actively involved in the pharmaceutical care of nursing home residents in Vancouver, is a prescription compounding specialist, and a certified compression stocking fitter.