Business Feature - Slave Lake Apple Drugs

2 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

Slave Lake Apple Drugs approaches its 12th anniversary

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Slave Lake Apple Drugs, a locally rooted pharmacy that has been caring for families in Slave Lake and nearby communities for over a decade.

In a small town, healthcare is often about more than prescriptions. It’s about trust, relationships, and showing up for people when they need support the most. For Kristine Kelham, Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager at Apple Drugs in Slave Lake, that philosophy has guided her career since the very beginning.

Kelham’s journey into pharmacy began when she was still in high school. During a Grade 11 career day, a visiting pharmacist described the profession as “where medicine meets teaching.” The idea immediately resonated with her.

“I had interests in both healthcare and education,” Kelham shared. “Pharmacy felt like the perfect balance of those two worlds.”

She went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University of Alberta, graduating with Distinction in 2009. Today, she leads the pharmacy team at Apple Drugs, where her role goes far beyond dispensing medication.

A Return to Slave Lake

Kelham joined Apple Drugs in 2018, when her family moved back to Slave Lake — the community where she first began her pharmacy career. Before returning, she had been working in a hospital in Calgary.

“I knew I would likely transition back to community pharmacy,” she said. “I was fortunate that the timing worked out to join Apple Drugs alongside a local colleague, Juliana Franklin.”

Franklin, who has been practicing in community pharmacy since 2008, became an important mentor for Kelham as she stepped into her role in the community setting.

Supporting Community Health

Over the years, Apple Drugs has quietly become a trusted healthcare hub for residents in Slave Lake and the surrounding region.

“Our team works hard to meet patients where they are,” Kelham said. “People come to us because they know we take the time to listen and be thorough.”

The pharmacy offers a range of services including immunizations, compression stocking fittings, opioid agonist therapy for individuals struggling with addiction, and mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs. Kelham says the pharmacy’s strength lies in its experienced team and the strong relationships they build with patients.

(L-R) Janelle (Pharmacy Technician), Shawna (Pharmacy Assistant), Roxanne (Pharmacy Assistant), Kristine (Pharmacist/Pharmacy Manager), Juliana (Pharmacist), Cassie (Pharmacy Assistant), Liam (Pharmacy Assistant)

“In a small community, your patients aren’t just names on a file. They’re your neighbours, educators, business owners, and your children’s classmates’ families,” she explained. “We often have the privilege of caring for multiple generations of the same family.”

Slave Lake Apple Drugs also plays a critical role in supporting nearby remote communities. The pharmacy is 100% Indigenous-owned and was originally established to help improve healthcare access for surrounding Indigenous communities.

The pharmacy is also a unique collaboration and partnership between Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) and Bigstone Cree Nation, bringing several Nations together with a shared goal: strengthening access to healthcare for rural and Indigenous communities while supporting a locally owned pharmacy that serves the entire region.

Leadership and Mentorship

As Pharmacy Manager at Slave Lake Apple Drugs, Kristine Kelham enjoys leading a team that focuses on building strong relationships with patients and supporting the community’s healthcare needs. One of the most rewarding parts of her role is seeing staff connect with patients and remember important details about their health journeys. Kelham also enjoys mentoring local high school students who work part-time at the pharmacy. Many become curious about healthcare careers after seeing firsthand how pharmacists support patients every day.

A Growing Role in Rural Healthcare

Pharmacies are playing an increasingly important role in rural communities. With long wait times to see doctors or nurse practitioners, many residents turn to pharmacists for help with urgent but non-emergency health concerns. Pharmacists can assess and treat many minor ailments, helping patients receive timely care while reducing pressure on emergency rooms.

At the same time, rural pharmacies face challenges as operating costs rise while dispensing fees in Alberta have remained largely unchanged for more than a decade.

Apple Drugs also offers a range of services including medication reviews, immunizations, and care planning for patients with chronic conditions. These reviews help ensure medications work safely together and, in some cases, allow pharmacists to simplify treatment plans by reducing unnecessary medications.

The pharmacy also benefits from the expertise of pharmacist Juliana Franklin, a Certified Respiratory Educator who helps patients manage conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

While the front store is small, the team carefully selects products that benefit the community. Recent additions include postpartum care products and a 10% seniors discount (50+) on front store items on the last Monday of each month.

Through dedicated service and strong community relationships, Slave Lake Apple Drugs continues to play an important role in supporting the health of Slave Lake and surrounding communities.