Letter to Editor - Owner's response regarding Nokomis/pharmacy letter

Nokomis council responds to pharmacy auction

Town proposes new Nokomis Wellness Centre after James Pharmacy Group lists property with restrictive sale conditions

Last Mountain TimesPublic Submission

April 15, 2026 

It is with regret that we as a longstanding Community Pharmacy must create this response to The Town of Nokomis’ letter dated April 10^th,2026 from Town Council and signed by Mayor David Mark.  

We were informed of the letter that was posted on Facebook from our Community  Pharmacist. No copy of the letter was either emailed or directed to us before posting it  on social media or the Town of Nokomis Website.  

I, Kristi James, Co-Owner also directly called the town office to speak with David Mark on Friday April 10^th 2026; he was not available to speak to me this past Friday or all of this week, April 13-17^th. I was told Tanya would call me back on Thursday April 16^th. 

The letter from The Town creates a false narrative in the community about what our intentions at Nokomis Pharmacy are moving forward; suggesting that the Pharmacy is being sold and that Nokomis will no longer have Pharmacy Services available in the community.  

There are also various bold statements throughout the letter that villainize us, the  Pharmacy owners, by suggesting that we are: 

• Limiting or taking away Pharmacy services all together 
• Dictating certain terms to the town 
• Wanting the community to suffer 
• Making changes to Pharmacy Services by our guided self-interest rather than due to the reality of the current health care challenges this province faces  

From the statements above it gives the impression that The Town Council or the Mayor is not considering that in the last 5-8 years there has been a shortage of health care professionals in rural areas & an increased cost to bring in relief pharmacy services.  

Then piggybacking on these false claims, The Mayor has politicized the issue by trying to suggest that he and the council have a plan for a Nokomis Wellness Centre that would include Pharmacy Services. If we as Pharmacy business owners who have worked in &

navigated the Rural Health Care Sector in Saskatchewan since 2008 and have owned &  operated Lanigan & Nokomis Pharmacies since 2012, cannot continue to run our  business under the stated constraints above, how does the Mayor & Town Council expect themselves to do this? 

We have spoken to Dr. Lim,MD, Lanigan & District Medical Clinic and Strasbourg & District Health Centre about our plans to have a drop-off Depot for Customers in Nokomis to continue Pharmacy Services in the area; we have their continued support.  

In the coming weeks, Customers can confirm if they would like their prescriptions  transferred to the pharmacy of their choice in Lanigan or Strasbourg for the utilization of  this Depot. The last day for In Person pharmacy services in Nokomis is May 15^th, 2026. 

We have considered: 

• Nokomis to Lanigan is 39 km (~25 minute commute) 
• Nokomis to Strasbourg is 50 km (~30 minute commute) 
• Nokomis to BHP Jansen Mine is 94km (~ 60 minute commute via Lanigan) • Nokomis to Watrous is 51km (~35 minute commute via Lockwood) 

We feel strongly that we can continue to be a part of the Quality Health Care services as  listed on the Town of Nokomis website, inclusive of all the professional offices located  outside of the Town. 

We have shown our commitment to the communities of Nokomis, Lanigan & Strasbourg through our investment in Pharmacy services since 2012. We have strengthened our community ties in Nokomis by investing in & donating to the Nokomis Health Centre X-ray Equipment Campaign, Yearly School Supplies to the Nokomis School, Rec Board donations, Museum contributions and other Community organizations. 

This change in Pharmacy Services was again not an easy decision, but we felt confident  that our history of being Pharmacy Owners put us in a strong position to support the  Rural Pharmacy needs of Nokomis with continued investment in the community. 

Respectfully, 

Andrew & Kristi James 
Pharmacy Owners