Sanjay Lekhi

“As a pharmacist in Shelburne, I’ve always believed that my role goes beyond filling prescriptions,” says Sanjay Lekhi. “I see myself as part of this community’s health journey. When I notice a gap, I try to step up and help.”

Along with his wife, Shalini, and toddler son, Shan, Lekhi emigrated from India to Canada in 2000. When he first arrived, he got a job on the night shift at Tim Hortons. “The night shift paid a little extra,” he recalls. His daughter, Aarya, was born in 2002.

It took some time to come to grips with the English language and the rhythms of life in his new country, but a new job at Apotex, the Canadian pharmaceutical company, sparked Lekhi’s interest in becoming a pharmacist. So he enrolled in the University of Toronto’s pharmacy program while continuing to work full-time.

After graduating, Lekhi began his career as a pharmacist at the No Frills grocery store in Shelburne. After a few years there, he went on to do locums in several locations around the province, then became the associate-owner of a Shoppers Drug Mart in Fergus. But when the time came to establish his own pharmacy, he wanted to return to the town where he had started. Shelburne Town Pharmacy opened in 2013.

In 2014, Lekhi held the first of what has become an annual June fundraiser for the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. “It’s one of the leading pediatric hospitals in the world, and it serves families from all across Ontario,” he says. “Many people in Shelburne, when faced with serious pediatric health issues, turn to SickKids.”

During the fundraiser’s second year, Lekhi met Shelburne resident Brenda Haines, who promptly offered to pitch in – and has continued helping ever since. “I can’t imagine doing it without her,” Lekhi says. “She’s a pillar.” Many others also volunteer, and since the fundraiser began, it has raised more than $28,000.

Lekhi also worked on bringing another family doctor and walk-in clinic to Shelburne. “We’re facing an acute shortage of physicians, and many families struggle to find timely care,” he says.

He found a family doctor who was interested in a Shelburne practice, if demand was high enough. So Lekhi got to work. He posted on Facebook and circulated a few flyers – and, just like that, 500 people had signed up, and more are still adding their names.

Kayesanmi Jijoho-Ogun, who goes by Dr. Kay, opened his Centennial Road practice – Shelburne Town Medical Clinic – on Nov. 12. The clinic now operates two days a week, but Lekhi hopes the practice will expand as need dictates. And Shelburne Town Pharmacy will soon move around the corner from its current Main Street location to share the building with the medical clinic.

“At the end of the day,” says Lekhi, “I just want to use whatever skills and resources I have to make life a little healthier and a little easier for the people around me. Whether that’s raising funds for SickKids or helping bring more doctors to Shelburne, it’s all about giving back to a community that has given me so much.”